Steppin' Out

Cover Story

A company member of sjDANCEco performs for the company's fifth anniversary program, 'The Best of sjDANCEco.'

Take Five

Company marks annivesary with new works and favorites

By Heather Zimmerman

In just half a decade, sjDANCEco has produced a diverse slate of original works. To launch its fifth anniversary season, the San Jose-based modern dance company presents two company premieres, a look back at three of sjDANCEco's top pieces, and a work by a 20th-century dance master.

"The Best of sjDANCEco" takes place Oct. 26-27, 8 p.m. at the San Jose Repertory Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose.

The "Best of" program reflects the variety of sjDANCEco's body of works, which are all developed and choreographed by company members.

Pieces making their debut are "Quietus" by company member Dominic Duong, and "Diablo Opus" by sjDANCEco artistic director Gary Masters.

Other works on the program are the critically acclaimed "Birthing the Ascension," by Maria Basile, co-artistic director; "RAW" by Heather Cooper; and Jeanine Charles' "Courting Medieval." SjDANCEco will also perform the 1958 piece "Mazurkas" by dance legend José Limón, with whom both Masters and Basile have close artistic ties.

Tickets are $15-$50. For more information, call 408.924.5041 or visit www.sjdanceco.org..