Doug Varone and Dancers are in the final stages of preparing for the two world premiere performances of “Somewhere” and work is well under way designing the lighting for the ultimate Danceworks Santa Barbara residency. Doug and the dancers are relaxed and joking around even more than usual as Derek Van Heel works closely with Doug to illuminate this ambitious new work, giving shape, definition and mood to enhance and define the dancing. The choreography has been honed for 3 weeks and now the business of creating stage magic is in full swing and Doug’s hilarious singing of the score on the “God mic” adds to the fun as the dancers “mark” different scenes while the light cues are built. There is a sense of calm and probably relief to have come this far and now be getting close to the curtain rising before some inevitable butterflies start adding to the giddiness on opening night. I have always found this stage of a production’s birth the most unstressful – there is a lot of waiting around with chances to talk and “play” as time slows down, the kind of behind the scenes part of theater and dance that audiences never see but I have encountered many times, enriching the experience of documenting new works. Don’t miss the two performances on the Lobero stage this Friday and Saturday as Dianne Vapnek’s dream of Danceworks concludes its final residency with another stunning new work of art, September 6 & 7. Tickets: lobero.org or 805-963-0761.
