Choreographer’s Canvas combines dance styles through the decades

The Nashville Choreographer’s Canvas, an evening of choreography from Nashville’s emerging and New York’s established choreographers is set for Oct. 4 and 5 at 7 p.m., and Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. in Lipscomb’s Shamblin Theatre. The evening will be presented by Lipscomb University Theatre and New York City’s Group Theatre Too. Peter Fields, artistic director of Lipscomb’s Orchesis Dance Company, and Justin Boccitto, Lipscomb theatre adjunct professor and award-winning choreographer, curated the evening. Described by Boccitto as similar to Fox TV’s So You Think You Can Dance, The Nashville Choreographer’s Canvas will include many types of dance including tap, ballet, jazz, Bollywood, Cirque du Soleil-style aerial dance and Charlie Chaplin-style eccentric dance. One number will be dedicated to portraying the history of dance from the 1920’s Charleston to modern hip-hop. The original New York Choreographer’s Canvas, founded and coordinated by Boccitto six years ago, is an annual event that features the works of more than 15 choreographers each year, with a hundred submissions from around the world vying for a spot in the annual show. “I got the idea for the name from Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit, which talks about how all creators begin with a blank canvas,” Boccitto said. Now, Boccitto, who directed Lipscomb’s production of Hairspray in 2011, wants to expand the blank canvas to Nashville. “This is an opportunity for people from all different dance backgrounds, including those not so familiar with dance, to come together for one night and experience dance in all its forms,” Boccitto said. “Each choreography piece tells a story and highlights the importance of dance throughout the ages and in our lives.” Performers for the evening will include Lipscomb students...