The annual ELEVATE: OPEN SPACES arts festival will present dance films and live performances in galleries, public spaces, and parks throughout Atlanta. Events are free and open to the public.

Dance on the Square at Colony Square will take place from 1-3 p.m. Sept. 24. Under the direction of Emory Professor of Dance, Julio Medina, Emory Dance will perform three pieces 1-1:30 p.m.

  • The solo, coalesce (2021) will be performed by Medina.
  • The duet, ridge (2021), will be performed by dance artists Jacque Pritz and Julianna Feracota.
  • A student work will be performed by TNT, a co-ed Hip-Hop crew at Emory University.

DanceMakers of Atlanta will perform four pieces 1:40-2 p.m.

  • Green
  • Back to Life
  • Concerto #23
  • Clap Back

Dance Canvas, under the direction of Angela Harris, selected two works from their 2022 Dance Canvas/Atlanta Contemporary Resident Choreographers: Anicka Austin and Vanessa Zabari. The works will be presented 2:30-3 p.m.

  • The Death of Two Birds by Anicka Austin is a solo that will be performance by Indya Childs. Accompanying music composed by Chris Gravely, performed by cellist Alana Bennett-Garcia.
  • The Heart of the World choreography by Vanessa Zabari, performed by Vanessa Zabari and Mary-Beth Stinson.

Choreographer and archivist Austin said she considers the performance of repetition, endurance and devotion as a way of knowing, learning and being. 

Dance Performance of Words in Action by Room To Move Dance at Grant Park at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sept. 25. Room To Move Dance (RTMD) continues building on the study of post-modern movement in this work.

 Rounding out the month will be a Dance Performance by Qudus Onikeku at Gallerie 88 Design House in Buckhead Village at 8 p.m. Sept. 30. The internationally renowned choreographer and dancer will perform AFRICAMAN ORIGINAL. The solo performance will take the audience on a journey into the world of Black dances from Africa, Brazil and the United States, set to the music of the king of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti. This event is being presented in partnership with ELEVATE, Villa Albertine, France-Atlanta, and Gallerie 88 Design House.

Above: Julio Medina, Emory Dance. Photo by Matt Spaugh