BANDALOOP dancers soar from the exterior walls of the Moss Arts Center in remarkable outdoor performances
The Moss Arts Center kicks off its 2021-22 season with an unforgettable community event. The side of the center is transformed into a dance floor for a series of free outdoor performances featuring BANDALOOP, wonder-inspiring performers who use dynamic physicality and intricate choreography to re-imagine dance and activate public spaces.
The center presents performances of BANDALOOP on Friday, Sept. 17, at 5 and 6 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 18, at 1 and 2 p.m. Performances will take place on the eastern facing exterior wall of the Moss Arts Center. Best viewed from the lawn between the center and Main Street, visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for an even more comfortable viewing experience. Masks are welcomed.
Each performance lasts approximately 15 minutes. In the event of inclement weather, check the Moss Arts Center website.
“After two years of planning, we’re thrilled to celebrate our new season’s theme, ‘gathering,’ with dancers who literally gather momentum—joyously and without boundaries,” said Margaret Lawrence, Moss Arts Center director of programming.
BANDALOOP uses climbing technology to expand and challenge what is possible. Founded by Amelia Rudolph and under the artistic direction of Melecio Estrella, the company fuels the imagination of people across the globe, having performed live for millions of people in over 20 countries, as well as on screens in films and digital media.
BANDALOOP has performed on architectural landmarks and skyscrapers around the world, including sites in Brazil, Korea, South Africa, Italy, Portugal, Muscat, and Oman. The company has completed tours of China, Mexico, and India sponsored by the U.S. State Department, which included performances on the historic Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, India, and the Grand Cathedral in Puebla, Mexico. The video “Waltz on the Walls of City Hall,” which features BANDALOOP performers dancing on the walls of Oakland, California’s city hall building, has received millions of views on YouTube.
Engagement events with BANDALOOP
The center will host a free lecture/demonstration with BANDALOOP Artistic Director Melecio Estrella and company members on Wednesday, Sept. 15, from 6-7 p.m. at the performance site. This interactive presentation will focus on the company’s signature public art process and community enrichment practices. Registration is required. Those interested in observing a portion of BANDALOOP’s rehearsal are welcome to arrive at 5 p.m.
BANDALOOP will also offer a vertical dance workshop for select Virginia Tech student dancers, who will work with the performers on the principles of dancing on vertical surfaces while suspended from above.
Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. The parking booth at the garage will be unstaffed for these events, so you will need to take a ticket and pay $6 upon exit. Mastercard and Visa are the only accepted forms of payment. Virginia Tech has also partnered with ParkMobile to provide a convenient, contactless electronic payment option for parking, which may be used at any parking meter, campus parking space, or lot with standard F/S, C/G, or R parking.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jonathan Boulter at 540-231-5300 or email jboulter@vt.edu during regular business hours.
