The Fertile Ground Festival got Groovin' at the Polaris Contemporary Dance Center

The Fertile Ground Festival, a 10 day celebration from January 20th-30th of citywide and locally grown art, celebrated their third year in Portland to a larger audience. Originally, the Fertile Ground Festival launched in 2009, by the Portland Area Theatre Alliance (PATA) to provide a platform for Portland theatre companies to showcase their commitment to new works. This year for the first time, the Fertile Ground Festival collaborated with Polaris Dance Theatre and, together, launched a dance hub called the Groovin' Greenhouse.

On Friday, January 28th and Saturday, January 29th at the Polaris Contemporary Dance Center, the Groovin' Greenhouse showcased new works specifically in dance. Portland based dance companies such as NW Fusion Dance, Legacy Dance, Aaron Wheeler-Kay, Dance Coalition of Oregon, Les Watanabe with Portland Festival Ballet Dancers, and Polaris Dance Theatre  performed new works to a sold out audience each night. Polaris Dance Theatre's staff and volunteers tried to accommodate the general public wanting to buy tickets at the door by pulling out chairs to set up next to the packed bleachers and creating a standing room only section by the exit door. Unfortunately, the Groovin' Greenhouse was so popular, especially by the second evening's performances, that Polaris Dance Theatre's staff and volunteers had to eventually apologize and send people away at the door explaining there were no more seats available.

The Polaris Contemporary Dance Center opened a little over a year ago to provide Polaris Dance Theatre with a studio of their own. The Polaris Dance Studio consists of one large studio space with a smaller aerial studio space off to the far right, a changing room, and an extra bonus room off to the left for speciality needs such as Pilates equipment. With all the small side events Polaris Dance Theatre is involved in along with their main concerts, Polaris Dance Theatre had literally no time at all to transform their studio space into a professional theatre space. However, Polaris Dance Theatre pulled off this amazing transformation.
The Polaris Contemporary Dance Center was transformed by the addition of
 professional wings, stage lights, speakers, musical equipment and bleachers. Audience members were greeted at the door by Polaris Dance Theatre's staff and volunteers and immediately entered into the lobby where much socializing before the performances occurred. Off of the lobby was the extra bonus room where all the speciality and Pilates equipment was removed allowing the room to be transformed into a bar/refreshments area that offered complimentary wine and cookies. A donation was requested, but not necessary. A Polaris Dance Theatre staff and/or volunteer greeted audience members at the door to the studio/theatre room handing out programs and directing people to their seats.

Polaris Dance Theatre's "Lil' Mo"

Founder and Artistic Director, Robert Guitron, directed his staff and volunteers who were all available for any questions or concerns allowing the audience members and multiple dance companies performing on both evenings a stress free and relaxing environment. Performers were provided with the smaller aerial studio, which created a private room off of the stage that had it's own stage entrance for performers to change and prepare before each performance. As someone who has stepped foot in the Polaris Contemporary Dance Theatre multiple times myself, I was jaw-dropped shocked by the outstanding studio to theatre transformation.

Polaris Dance Theatre's dancer, Sarah Lakey

The audience responded enthusiastically each night with loud applause and vocal shout-outs in between each dance performance. Many audience members enjoyed Friday night's performances so much, they returned the following evening on Saturday to observe a whole new line up of dance companies showcasing their new works. I was pleasantly surprised to see each dance company bring something new to the table.
NW Fusion Dance presented "Alarm Sounds", "Mowgli's Road & Fly Aware", a Broadway big jazz hand vibe by NW Fusion Dance's remarkable pre-professional company of younger performers. Dance Coalition of Oregon presented "Botanical Madness" and truly brought a wide variety of movement including a ballroom performance, gypsy performance, and a modern/avant garde performance. Les Watanabe presented "I Wish" and showed his versatility by performing aerial movement, modern/hip-hop/break movement and a tap solo that received a standing ovation prompting Mr. Watanabe to give a brief and emotional speech at the end of his performance. Mr. Watanabe explained in his brief speech how important dance is in his life and thanked his supportive family and first dance teachers including his first tap teacher that happened to be in the house that evening. Polaris Dance Theatre's company members, Cerrin Lathrop and Carlyn Hudson presented "Solos in Progress" including a hilarious pointe comedy that got the whole audience laughing. Polaris Dance Theatre tapped into Motown music and presented "Lil' Mo Taste" by performing a fabulous piece done to the song "Stand By Me". "Lil' Mo Taste" is literally a "taste" of their Spring concert, "Lil' Mo". Dates for "Lil' Mo" will be posted shortly. This performance resonated with all of the Polaris dancers, staff and volunteers as fellow Polaris dancer, Sarah Lakey, recently injured herself in rehearsal making her unable to perform "Stand By Me" with Polaris Dance Theatre.
Ms. Lakey arrived with crutches on Saturday during the last performance at the Groovin' Greenhouse to show her love and support for Polaris Dance Theatre and fellow dancers. As she arrived, Polaris Dance Theatre gave a shout-out to Ms. Lakey and the whole house applauded in support. Although Ms. Lakey was a prominent dancer in Polaris Dance Theatre's new work including doing partner work with fellow Polaris dancer, M'Liss, Polaris still showcased a "taste" of their new work. As fellow dancer, M'Liss, performed without her dancing partner, Ms. Lakey, M'Liss broke down emotional and began crying. The dance ended with all Polaris dancers standing together while the song said "Stand By Me." As the dancers stood together, they faced Ms. Lakey in the audience expressing their love and support the best way dancers know how to, through movement. When Ms. Lakey was asked if it was hard to watch Polaris dance without her, she replied, "It was awesome! I never knew the movement that happened behind me while I was dancing." She was shocked at how dynamic all the dancers were that Polaris performed that evening and spoke with high spirits.
After the performances ended, the dancers joined audience members in the lobby and enjoyed wine, cookies and great conversations. Polaris Dance Theatre hosted three separate performances all filled with different dance companies showcasing new works. The performances were truly eclectic and were met afterwards by an eclectic audience. I really believe I witnessed a fertile art environment at the Polaris Contemporary Dance Center last weekend and can't wait to see these "new works" completed later this year.