Public dance as art steps into Chattanooga

Local dancers are creating a new rhythm for Chattanooga's public art scene by introducing performance art through events like the May 19-20 Dances in Raw States.

photo Local performance arts dancers cross the Walnut Street Bridge during the Walk with Me: A Meditative Dance for Peace.

"Performance art is not something we see in Chattanooga," said Ann Law, a professional dancer of 21 years who teaches dance classes for Chattanooga State Community College. "A big concern for us is, 'How do we share our work with others out in the community?'"

Dances in Raw States will be held May 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. at Barking Legs Theater and costs a $5 donation. The event is held once every three months and Law said it is an opportunity to introduce a form of dance that breaks down the boundaries between styles. She said everyone is invited to attend the event where dancers will perform original pieces and receive feedback from the audience.

Every first Friday of the month from 8 p.m. to midnight, Barking Legs Theater also hosts Wide Open Floor sessions. The monthly events are designed like an open-mike session, where participants can book up to 10 minutes on stage for their dance performance.

"What I teach is not a dance style," Law said. "I teach the art of dance. It's such an exciting time right now. I feel like we are dissolving those styles that are keeping us in one place."

Law and other dancers in the area have formed the Chattanooga Dance Forum, a group on Facebook that provides information on local dance events and connects the dancing community. Law said she hopes to create a more formal organization that will focus on increasing the acceptance of their art style within Chattanooga. One idea she has for sharing dance publicly is to find an empty wall and project short videos of dances for residents to see as they walk or drive by.

"I have a meditative dance that I've done every year for 20 years," Law said. "You start with your left foot and walk together four steps forward and four steps back. Soon, your arms start to move and then your body starts to move on its own."

Local dancers, students and area residents recently performed her meditative dance on the Walnut Street Bridge as part of the Walk with Me: A Meditative Dance for Peace. It took participants two hours and 20 minutes to cross the span while performing the four-step dance. Law said the event was an opportunity for residents to send good thoughts and energy to those victims of both the Japan earthquake and Chattanooga area tornadoes.

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