Choreographer brings diversity of dance to Wadsworth tonight

Published: Friday, May 12, 1995

By Lisa Marie Weyh

Daniel Ezralow was pre-med at UC Berkeley... until he took a beginners' modern dance class.

The summer after his sophomore year in college he left for New York to explore his new interest.

He never came back.

The inspired dancer, performing at Wadsworth tonight, was quickly awarded scholarships to study with the Joffrey Ballet and with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

"I never had to ask myself why I began to like dance," says Ezralow. "I just did ... if you like pasta, you don't ask yourself why, you just know that you like it."

The choreographer will present a concert like no other. Ezralow will bring together a group of world renowned choreographers in a presentation of solos and duets.

"I invited these artists to show their work in a concert ... they did not audition," says Ezralow. "This performance is very special, one will never see this many great artists on stage together."

The 38-year-old Los Angeles native has danced with many companies including Lar Lubovitch and Paul Taylor.

However, the first dance company he joined was 5x2 Plus, a modern group where the performer really got a chance to explore what dance meant to him.

"It was very clear that I was excited about dance," says Ezralow. "I learned that I had a physical capability that would allow me room for discovery."

After two years dancing with 5x2 Plus, Ezralow decided to move on and try something new. He then spent the next three-and-a-half years as a dancer in the Paul Taylor Modern Dance Company.

As if this was not enough, in the spring of 1983, Ezralow left Paul Taylor to create his own dance group.

"I truly wanted to explore the creation of a large, new company," says Ezralow.

As a result, Ezralow's curiosity led to the development of Momix, a company in which he was among the founding members.

After four years of performing with Momix, the choreographer was still not satisfied and became co-founder and co-director of "ISO."

"ISO is a dance company for individuals with very creative minds," says Ezralow. "It is a company open to explorative movement styles."

The evening of dance produced by Ezralow will consist of 14 pieces all choreographed by nine featured choreographers.

"This is not an evening of me presenting my choreography, I am presenting dance," says the dancer.

An important factor for Ezralow in developing this concert was the diversity of dance. He wants to offer the viewer a wide variety of movement styles.

"Sometimes we classify dance and that is wrong, people have to realize that anything can be dance," says Ezralow. "It is important that people understand that dance is not classifiable."

Among the featured choreographers, Ann Carlson will present "Visit Woman Move Story Cat Cat Cat," a piece which is part of the Animals Series, commissioned by the New York Foundation for the Arts. The piece will include music by Ludwig Von Beethoven and original lighting by Tony Giovanetti.

German choreographer Frey Faust will present "Quest," a work of dance with music by "Kodo." Faust has worked with such modern dance pioneers as Merce Cunningham, Meredith Monk and David Parsons. The choreographer began his dance career as a street performer and is now co-founder of FAFU Dance Company and is currently director of Ardent Body Communications Dance Company.

"Those who come to the concert will see a collection of people who will never be seen again in L.A.," says Ezralow. "I want people to come so they can realize that dance is everything, dance is life."

DANCE: Daniel Ezralow & ... An evening of solos and duets. Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13, 8 p.m. at the Wadsworth Theater. TIX: $30, $27, $11 for students with ID. For ticket info call (310) 825-2101.