The piece they are bringing to the Fort Wayne audiences this spring is titled “Gravity of Center,” and as you may guess, their center of gravity is not what you’d expect. The 75-minute non-stop piece had me reminding myself to breathe. They appear tough in costumes that resemble rehearsal clothes, and the red socks worn by one female dancer catch my attention against the gray and brown tones of the other clothes. The piece is dark with it’s lighting design and the layering of relationship dramas which find it’s way into duets, trio’s, quartets and solos. What is this dance? It cannot be defined in terms you might identify as modern dance, break dancing, ballet, street dance but rather a unique blend. And as you watch “Gravity of Center,” it really doesn’t matter what you call it because it is just. …well, amazing. There is so much happening that when there is a pause, it is welcomed, as I became as exhausted as they were even though the movement itself seemed effortless. The sound score by Jasper Guhunia changed so incrementally that I never noticed that the quiet solo piano had transitioned into a percussive drum piece that somehow later became a cello piece with a little violin.

There is a story somewhere in “Gravity of Center,” but don’t bother trying to figure it out. The title is just a title, I believe based on how choreographer, Victor Quijada, decided to explore the movement by challenging the dancers to find different ways to find their center of gravity not only in themselves but as a group.

The two-day residency will start with a lecture-demonstration at the Arts United Center Friday April 13, 4 p.m. for the public. (It’s a deal at $5!) Following will be a master class at 7 p.m. held in the FWDC’s Elliot Studio Theatre. This is for the experienced dancer! Sign up soon as this workshop is limited to 25 and will fill up fast! RUBBERBANDance Group performs “Gravity of Center,” Saturday, April 14, at 8 p.m. at the Arts United Center. Visit fwdc.org/guest/artist for more information about RUBBERBANDance Group and other guest artists FWDC has hosted since 1989. Special thanks to Lincoln Financial Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, and Arts Midwest for supporting this residency, and we look forward to seeing you at these events! Call 260.424.6574 to purchase tickets or for more information regarding this event.—Article By: Artistic Director, Liz Monnier

LA Weekly said of TAIKOPROJECT, “This ain’t your mama’s taiko, but it may be your hip, younger cousin’s”, and they couldn’t be more right. This company seamlessly blends fast- paced, exciting taiko with storytelling, music, hip-hop choreography, multimedia and dance.

In 2005, TAIKOPROJECT travelled to Japan to represent American taiko at the Tokyo International Taiko Contest. They took home the top prize, becoming the first foreign taiko group to win the contest. Earlier that year, they were featured in Mitsubishi Motor’s national ad campaign, featuring women in their group.

This 8-member company is in Fort Wayne for a three-day residency that includes educational lecture/demonstrations with schoolchildren, workshops for local taiko drummers and taiko enthusiasts, and will even be doing a demonstration during the Cherry Blossom Festival, happening downtown on April 18!

Reserved tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. At the door, tickets are $30. They can be purchased by calling the Arts United Center box office at (260) 422-4226.