Moving Violations

Troupe uses choreography to underscore refugees’ plight

Comments (0) By Wynter Holden Thursday, May 28 2009

Locals never seem to run out of ways to spotlight the immigration experience. ASU professor James Garcia has penned plays about deportation. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art has shown photos of gun-toting Minutemen. Musician Mark Saylors sings the “Illegal Immigration Blues.”

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What's next, interpretive dance?

Sigh.

Enter Flux Dance Project's latest production, Displaced Origins, premièring at Steele Indian School Park's Memorial Hall. Co-director Natalie King was inspired to create the project, which uses choreographed movements to explore the experiences of refugees, after her experiences overseas. “I had no idea what it was like to be hated for my unalterable and innate characteristics,” King tells New Times. “For me, to share what I saw and felt could only be accurately expressed through the art of movement, as it is the art of experience.”

But don’t expect flailing gestures and crazy hippie outfits. Co-director director Laura Atwood assures us Flux offers contemporary, not interpretive, dance. “Although dance might not always be the first choice, it presents a unique opportunity to reach an audience and bring social awareness to human rights violations,” she says.

Perhaps Sheriff Joe’s protesters should try that next time.

Fri., May 29, 7:30 p.m., 2009