The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, responsible for spawning the fringe movement all across the globe, is the largest performing arts festival in the world. Houston City Dance makes its way to Edinburgh later this year, but first the company gives Houston audiences a sneak peek at its planned program at On the Verge of the Fringe. The significance of a local company performing at such an esteemed international platform isn’t lost on artist director Sherese Campbell. “There is such a high standard of artistry at this festival,” she says. “It is considered to be one of the best in the world. For us, this is a once-in-a-lifetime -opportunity.”
The program’s called Random Acts, which is a reflection of the company’s diversity in movement style and thematic explorations. Included in the set is Campbell’s Rejuvenate: The D’Angelo Trilogy, an examination of contemporary womanhood. There’s also work about bullying, the trauma of child abuse, baseball and the beauty of jellyfish. Why such an eclectic mix of dances? “I chose the pieces because the Fringe Festival itself values diversity,” says Campbell. “The European audience is artistically open to everything and loves variety.”
7:30 p.m. City Dance Studio, 1307 West Clay. For information, call 713‑529‑6100 or visit houstoncitydance. $15 to $20.
Sat., July 12, 7:30 p.m., 2014
This article appears in Jul 10-16, 2014.