Light on their feet

Artown kicks off its 11th season this weekend with an opening performance by the Seán Curran Company. The dance company often combines music, poetry and a variety of dance styles, including ballet, folkloric and modern, into its pieces. Seán Curran was a lead dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and was also an original member of the New York City cast of Stomp. In 1997, he founded his own company after spending two seasons at New York City’s Danspace Project. The company’s major works include its 2004 piece, Art/Song/Dance, which is performed to poetry by Langston Hughes and Edna St. Vincent Millay and music by Broadway composer Ricky Ian Gordon. Its latest dance piece is Aria, which juxtaposes opera arias by Handel with taped apologies made by anonymous phone callers participating in the Apology Line, a project maintained by artist Allan Bridge between the years 1980 and 1995. Dance critics praise Curran’s ability to blend athleticism with artistry. “When I see something that reminds me what dancing can be at its most basic, I’m faint with pleasure,” writes Deborah Jowitt of The Village Voice. The Seán Curran Company performs 8 p.m. July 1 at Wingfield Park Amphitheater, First Street and Arlington Avenue. The event is free. Call 322-1538 or visit www.renoisartown.com.