In a weekend packed with dance, the big show is Ballet Tucson's "Sleeping Beauty." But at ZUZI!, a dancer who performed with Ballet Tucson for 17 years is debuting his own contemporary choreography, performed by his troupe ConDanza.
César R' Degollado, formerly known as César Rubio, says he no longer does exclusively ballet.
"This is completely different," he says. "This is not a classical company." Even so, though the dances are contemporary, much of the movement is ballet-based.
Degollado has been creating and performing his own work for some years, but this weekend ConDanza introduces itself to a wider audience in a collaborative concert with ZUZI! Dance Company called "In the Moment." ConDanza gets one half of the concert, and ZUZI! the other.
Fourteen ConDanza dancers and guest artists will perform pieces that are "90 percent my choreography," he says. His "Path" debuted back in 2001; its new version has new movement created by company members Shannon and Shelby Taylor and Chris Smith.
Guest dancer David Maurice, who's worked with the modern troupes Luna Negra in Chicago and Ate9 in Los Angeles, has come to town to restage the solo "Destroying Solitude." Degollado himself, always an engaging dancer at Ballet Tucson, will perform his piece "Ludico," with dancer Amie Kilgore.
"It's a contemporary pas de deux," he says. "I'm trying to be honest and true to what contemporary is."
The ZUZI! portion of the evening will be devoted to a single dance in six parts, "Coming/Going/Return." Choreographed by ZUZI! artistic director Nanette Robinson, the multi-generational work features aerial dance as well as modern dance on the floor. Sky Dominguez, Frieda Muller, Claire McGibeny, Cynthia Barthole and Robinson all dance solos.
ConDanza Repertory Company and ZUZI! Dance Company perform the double-bill concert "In the Moment" at noon and 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at ZUZI! Theater in the Historic YWCA, 738 N. Fifth Ave. $20 general, $15 for seniors, students and military. 629-0237; www.zuzimoveit.org..
