ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Sallee Slagle, of Forty Steps Dance in Nahant, demonstrates some creative/modern dance steps that will be used in her “Creature” dance workshop.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
NAHANT — Five years in the making, the premiere of “Creatures: The Video” will be shown at Lynn Museum’s Black Box Theatre next month.
Sallee Slagle, director of Forty Steps Dance, a Nahant-based non-profit, began the project with an interpretive dance based on the movement of birds. The idea expanded to include other animals, and evolved into a 40-minute production, she said.
Fifteen dancers are featured in the performance, depicting real and fictional creatures. The artists observe and recreate the animals’ activities, choreographed by Slagle. They wear clothing suggestive of the creatures they are portraying, but leave it open for the audience’s own interpretation.
While many of the creatures may be obvious to the audience, others can be taken in different ways, and some are based on multiple animals.
“The style is creative modern,” Slagle said. “The idea came from observing nature and the way that creatures in nature move. People will see different things in it. Telling them what they are supposed to see is not what art is about. I’d rather keep them engaged and involved.”
The video, produced by Daniel Jacobs, will also include interviews with the dancers. It will be shown during a red carpet event on June 5, with refreshments and raffle prizes. Dancers will attend, dressed in formal clothing, and meet the audience.
Before the showing of “Creatures,” Forty Steps will hold a workshop for children between the ages of eight and 12. Slagle, who has led workshops worldwide, including in Germany, Austria, and South Africa, will teach the children about the art of interpretive and creative modern dance.
“We will also experiment and create some of our own creatures,” Slagle said. “I think it will be a great opportunity for children to explore movement.”
The program will be offered for free and is open to any children interesting in exploring creativity, she said. But, registration ahead of time is required because space is limited.
The workshop will begin at 1 p.m. and the premiere will follow at 3 p.m. Admission costs $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, or $40 per family.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte