by Shari Baldie

YBG ChoreoFest is an annual two weekend dance festival that has taken place in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens since 2017. This September, PUSH Dance Company’s Artistic Director Raissa Simpson and Associate Artistic Director Ashley Gayle are teaming up with David Herrera of David Herrera Performance Company to co-curate all of this year’s performances. David Herrera Performance Company.

The co-curators are very excited to present an array of talented and diverse performers from the Bay Area community like Noorani Dance Company. Ahead of their performance, learn more about what this Kathak dance company plans to bring to this year’s festival in our YBG ChoreoFest Performer interview series. 

What can audiences expect from your YBG ChoreoFest performance?

Noorani Dance Company specializes in Kathak, a storytelling dance form from South Asia – India, Pakistan. In the unique site specific setting of the Yerba Buena Gardens, our performance will challenge the audience to see beyond the vigorous footwork and pirouettes often highlighted in Kathak, and though still rooted in the movement technique and expressive components that will be further highlighted through this unique setting.

How do you feel the space at Yerba Buena Gardens will enhance your performance? 

Kathak developed in “non traditional” performance spaces such as in the temples and in the courts of Mughal palaces. Yerba Buena Gardens, though a contemporary urban setting, offers the opportunity for the dancers and audience to experience the art almost reminiscent of the spaces that were not necessarily conducive to dance, but which also gave it the greatest access for others to observe and appreciate it.

What are you most excited to see during YBG ChoreoFest this year?

We look forward to the challenge of integrating our choreography into the setting of Yerba Buena gardens, and to be inspired by the choreography of the other dance companies as well. Thinking outside the box is definitely the greatest and most exciting challenge!

Connect with Noorani Dance Company at nooranidance.com, Instagram @nooranidance, YouTube, and Facebook.