Fact/SF, a contemporary dance company based in San Francisco, is gearing up for its sixth annual Summer Dance Festival, set to take place over two weekends—from August 15-17 and August 22-24—at the ODC Theater located at Shotwell and 17th Street.
Dancers from various regions across the United States, including Chicago, the Twin Cities, Brooklyn, and Boston, will converge to showcase their talents at the festival.
Established in 2018 by Charlie Slender-White, the festival has undergone significant changes since its inception and particularly after the disruptions caused by the pandemic. Slender-White, initially curating the event himself, recognized the need for a more inclusive approach while still maintaining valuable connections with existing participants.
He articulated the festival’s vision by questioning, “What are we missing? How could this be more equitable? How could we find people that we don’t know yet?” This self-reflection led to an open application process that aims to broaden the artist pool, ensuring diversity in representation and artistry.
In 2022, the festival took a progressive step by financially compensating applicants, acknowledging the artist’s effort and commitment to their craft. “Let’s acknowledge that this is not optional labor,” Slender-White stated. “It is a real and ongoing component of being in the field, and part of the cultural values and politics of Fact/SF is that labor needs to be compensated.”
Fact/SF’s commitment to equity also extends to its audience through a “No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds” policy, ensuring accessibility for all.
This year, the festival will feature a diverse lineup of artists including The Davis Sisters, Heather Dutton, Clairey Evangelho, Chafin Seymour with seymour::dancecollective, Taja Will, and Fact/SF itself. The participating artists will bring a variety of geographic, gender, sexuality, style, and movement approaches to the stage.
Among the performances, Jenna Riegal will present her new work, to the marrow, in collaboration with Slender-White and Fact/SF company member Lizanne Roman Roberts. Riegal, who previously showcased her choreography at last year’s festival, expressed her enthusiasm about returning as a choreographer.
Reflecting on their long-standing artistic relationship, Riegal and Slender-White reminisced about their early days as students at the American Dance Festival in 2006. “We were in our 20s then, really hoping to have careers. And now, [we] are all in our 40s, and it’s really nice to be mature adults who are still dancing and still making,” shared Slender-White.
Additionally, Slender-White will debut a new piece titled Maelstrom, inspired by the natural phenomenon of conflicting currents. The performance will feature electronic music from artists including Röyksopp, Aphex Twin, Sigur Ros, Trent Moller, and Ryoji Ikeda, aiming to explore human interactions through sound and light.
Each weekend will showcase different performances, ensuring that attendees will not experience the same show twice. “The purpose of the evening is to go beyond entertainment,” Slender-White emphasized, highlighting the festival’s diverse representation on stage.
Tickets for the Fact/SF Summer Festival are available for purchase through the organization’s website. Those for whom ticket prices may pose a barrier are encouraged to reach out to FACT/SF Operations Manager, River Bermudez Sanders, at [email protected] for assistance.
image source from：missionlocal
