2008 San Diego Dance Theater Cabaret Dances

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For Jean Isaacs, modern dance is the nectar of life. The Artistic Director of the San Diego Dance Theater came to Southern California from the East Coast thirty-eight years ago to practice the art form and continues to carry on the tradition to this day.

"Modern dance is right on the edge of what is happening now," she says. "It is a reflection of what the world is through the art of dance."

This month in conjunction with the San Diego Museum of Art, her company presents the 7th annual Cabaret Dances -Imágenes Latinas - Latin Images at the Copley Auditorium in Balboa Park.

The four-night running performance will give the audience a taste of traditional Latin dance interpreted into modern form by nine, extraordinary dancers, a guest flamenco dancer from Spain and live music by Steve Baker on the keyboard and vocals by Rachel Drexler.

Now in its seventh year, the Cabaret Dances represent how Isaacs strives to show dance to audiences in a non-traditional setting. Patrons will sit at tables and be offered drink service and Latin-inspired appetizers from Waters Café while watching the unique choreography of the modern dance troupe.

"The idea is to make it a more social and interpretive event," Isaacs says. "The Copley Auditorium is mostly a place where people give speeches, but we turn it into a Cabaret alive with dance."

This year the Latin themed repertoire will honor the flamenco and bolero dance of Spain, the Mexican regional dance of Oaxaca, African tango, samba and salsa. Isaacs' vision was inspired by many of her students who have crossed borders to learn dance and the rhythm of the Spanish language. With San Diego's proximity to Mexico, Isaacs believes the theme is a natural fit for the 2008 Cabaret Dances.

The dance company's performances are an important thread of San Diego art in that they reflect the geographical region and culture of the city. Every September and October, the San Diego Dance Theater puts on another non-traditional performance called the Trolley Dances. The mobile audience takes the route of the red carts making frequent stops to watch members of the troupe dance to the beat of the city's different neighborhoods.

This year the San Diego Dance Theater includes the bodily talent of Annie Boyer, Danielle Bodeau, Anthony Diaz, John Diaz, Liv Isaacs-Nollet, Greg Lane, Bradley Lundberg, Veronica Martin-Lamm, Jessica Reed de Cancel and Sadie Weinberg. In addition, founder of San Diego Dance Theater George Willis will entertain the audience with a comedic act from Spain and Lakshmi Basile will perform a flamenco dance in traditional form.

Issaacs says she is honored to have Basile be a part of the Cabaret after seeing her perform in the guitar show, Primal Twang, just last year. Basile, now a resident of Spain, travels home once a year to visit family and give a dance performance.

"In this dance I try to give all the different colors flamenco can show in one number," Basile says. "I usually dance to live music and I'm dancing to a CD so it's a little different but it still has slow and upbeat music all in one song."

While this is Basile's first time performing with the dance troupe, she has worked with them in the past through teaching a flamenco workshop.

"It's really tough to teach flamenco in one day because it is so complex but I taught them the fieriness of flamenco," she says. "They were very quick. They got what I was teaching and the concepts."

While the performers will shine on stage, the creativity of costume-designers Betzi Roe Weinberg and the lighting design of Pamela Sherman-Keel will also contribute to the spice of Isaacs' show.

Because Cabaret Dances is presented in conjunction with the San Diego Museum of Art exhibition, Cabaret tickets holders will get free admission to the Museum through January 20 to view the Everett Gee Jackson art exhibit. Jackson established a studio near Guadalajara in the 1920s and was greatly influenced by artists Rivera and Orozco.

Admission to the show is $25 for general, $20 for Museum members and seniors and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased online at sandiegodancetheater.org, in person at the San Diego Museum of Art or by phone at 619.220.TIXS. For VIP Seating and Information, call San Diego Dance Theater at 619.225.1803.

For more San Diego Cabaret Dances photos, visit the photo gallery here.