Dancing in Snow

"Dancing in Snow," choreographed by Roderick George, is a sophisticated and thoughtful statement about Black and Queer experiences, and how cultural appropriation and tokenism separate Black dancing and culture from Black bodies.

Choreographer: Roderick George
Premiere Date: 2022
Run Time: 60 minutes
Number of dancers: 9

Available for touring

INFO

The poetic title is a metaphor for those who have had to assimilate into a society of White America. George’s new work is a deeper redevelopment of Tainted, a solo piece that premiered at the Odyssey in 2020. The original work was a solo narrowed on the vision of the dancer, Jamila Glass, and how she could see her existence as the only Black woman in white spaces. In the new work with a larger cast, Glass is joined by LACDC dancers Kate Coleman, Nicole Hagen, Colleen Hendricks, JM Rodriguez, and Ryan Ruiz, and guest artists Edgar Aguirre, Sam McReynolds, and Dave x.

COLLABORATORS

Music: slowdanger
Costume Design: Robert Huerta & Ashley Kayombo
Lighting Design: Claire Chrzan
Rehearsal Director: Natasha Poon Woo
Costume Consultant: Kelsey Vidic

Watch interviews & rehearsal trailers

Trailer | Dancing in Snow | L.A. Contemporary Dance x Roderick George

Additional Info

Trailer Filmed by Anna Tse and Edited by Danielle King

"The show is like a grinding pestle beauty." -- Kelsey Vidic (Costume Designer)

"His dance vocabulary runs the gamut from modern to jazz, ballet to street, with a deft touch of musical theater tossed in. The movement emanates from the core with the torso always in use and the arms beautifully rendered. With small gestures or perhaps a nod of the head George captures the musical accents and innuendo throughout. He understands the need to keep the stage moving, yet also knows when to slow it down for a solo or unison work. I was instantly drawn in." -- Tam Warner, L.A. Dance Chronicle

"Thank you Jamila for an incredible show last night. You all are such strong dancers holy sh*t. And I loved all those tiny precise moves. Damn. So impressed." - Jasmine Albuquerque (Choreographer - Katy Perry, St. Vincent, Savage x Fenty)

“L.A. Contemporary Dance Company… performed it flawlessly Friday evening in a touring presentation at San Francisco’s ODC Theater… The dancers deliver lengthy syncopated unison sections with accuracy that is all the more amazing considering they cannot see well out of their face coverings. George uses a collage of dance styles including jazz, ballet, modern and club. The transitions from one form to another are fast and furious so that one never settles before another intercedes… It's one hour of highly theatrical contemporary dance w. a distressing undercurrent. The costumes alone are worth the trip.” -- Jennifer Norris, Jen Norris Dance Reviews

"I was totally blown away by artistic & creative choreography. The bold, soft, athletic movement had me thinking how dance continues to evolve. And the fact all the dances were in top shape as they were on stage for like 45 min straight. What stamina, what artistic expression and what cohesiveness you all had. The space you used was poetry in motion…thank you for sharing your skills and talents." - Daniel G. Girey

8 dancers dressed in all white clothing with white wigs and hats and white mesh covering their faces and white gloves covering their hands. standing on a white stage with their arms outstretched.

dark brown person dressed in white clothing from head to toe, including a white hat and white mesh over their face. arms outstretched with a cheshire cat grin.

4 dancers in various shades of flesh colored clothing with arms outstretched to the sky. another dancer standing on leg with arms and his other leg outstretched to the sky.

Dark brown person lays on the floor while dark brown woman grabs his head and pulls body up from the floor. red lighting. both people in flesh colored clothing.