Forty Steps Dance, the town’s premier modern dance company, will close out its unusual 2020 season this weekend with two outdoor performances at Nahant’s Bailey’s Hill.
Rescheduled from its initial March date, the company’s annual performance will feature both new choreography and old repertory favorites, including an interactive piece presented at last year’s concert — “27 Years of 40 Steps Dance” — that will be introduced to the audience and then viewed later in the program as part of a new work.
Aptly titled “Rise Above It,” artistic director and 40 Steps founder Sallee Slagle said the piece highlights rising above and overcoming obstacles.
“(It’s) very relevant for our current times,” she said. “It’s those ‘forty steps’ imbued with a more artistic sense.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the North Shore in March, 40 Steps Dance has managed to “rise above” the difficulties of lockdown, putting together new works and practicing old choreography through online video chatting.
“After everything shut down, we continued to meet on Zoom or Skype or whatever seemed to be working for everybody that morning,” Slagle said. “We just felt that it was important to stay connected, because dancers have a very unique connection with each other in the sense that you’re physical with each other. You’re creating together as artists.”
Although Slagle faced pressure to simply cancel the season altogether, she said she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“My dancers are so devoted and passionate about dance,” she said. “We continued through and we postponed it twice, (and finally) we opted to move into September … It’s the only cultural event Nahant has been able to hold at all, so we’re quite excited by it.”
In February, 40 Steps Dance, which is composed of six accomplished dancers from the greater Boston area, made history as the first dance company to complete a residency at Middlesex Community College’s new Academic Arts Center.
Since then, the dancers have worked hard to produce a number of new pieces that will finally premier Saturday, including “A Voice in the Mist,” which Slagle said is meant to demonstrate “conflict in relationships, communication, and pathways to resolution.”
Violinist Katharina Radlberger and dancer Jake Corcoran will also feature as guest artists.
In compliance with all COVID-19 safety regulations, Slagle added that dances have been rearranged to allow movements to communicate without the usual partnering and lifts, and outdoor seating has been limited to 50 people.
“Even though it’s outside, I’m looking forward to it,” said dancer Lauren Beck, who has been with the company since 2009. “It’s kind of a whole different experience. You spend so much time rehearsing indoors, and you do a lot of indoor performances, so the outdoor ones are a little more rare, especially in the Boston area.”
Beck added she was happy to hear the show has already sold several tickets for both performances.
“With COVID and everything going on, I wasn’t sure how receptive people would be about going to a performance,” she said. “It’s nice that people are willing and able to be there.”
Show times are 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19.
Reservations are required. General admission is $20, VIP is $35, family is $45, and Boston Dance Alliance members, students, and seniors are $12. All proceeds benefit 40 Steps Dance, which is supported in part by a grant from the Nahant Cultural Council and the Nahant Preservation Trust.
Donations can be made online at www.fortystepsdance.org.
“Our passions push us,” Slagle said. “That’s what keeps us going, and that’s what keeps us creating.”
