Bridges are both symbols of cooperation and communication, as well as a real means of allowing people to move from one place to another, across a divide. When one of South Florida’s leading dance companies, Dance NOW! Miami, performs for the first time at the Broward Center’s Amaturo Theater, both meanings of the word will be invoked. Fresh off the company’s recent tour of Italy, the evening, on Friday, May 17, at 8 pm, includes their signature sinewy and graceful choreography in the Broward premieres of their Bridges NOT Walls, (B)ORGIA: Decadence & Decay and Fire Within, Fire Without: Dido on the Pyre; and the world premiere of The Shifting Weight of Water.

Taking as its jumping off point the recent political struggles and turmoil that have divided America, Bridges NOT Walls, choreographed by Dance NOW! Artistic Directors Diego Salterini and Hannah Baumgarten,is an investigation of the human condition. Bridges NOT Walls includes original video art by South Florida-based Francisco Javier Moraga Escalona, and a compelling musical score.It has evolved over the past two years since its world premiere in Miami, as Dance NOW! traveled to a residency in Mexico and in collaboration with the Mexico City Ballet/Compañia de Danza Clásica Quintana Roo, and most recently with Italy’s Opus Ballet.

The evening also features three other signature works from Dance NOW!, including the world premiere of Salterini’s The Shifting Weight of Water, apoetic ensemble work for six members of the company, built around the music of South African composer Phillip Miller. Two Broward premieres round out the program. Baumgarten and Salterini’s jointly created (B)ORGIA: Decadence & Decay, was inspired by the real life story of the famous Italian Renaissance-era family, with original costumes conceived and created by Haydée Morales,designer for Miami City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Celia Cruz and others. Salterini, who is originally from Italy, says, “It’s so wonderful for me to dive deep into Italian history with this piece, and dig into the complex contradictions that were part of the Borgia family.”

Finally, there will be Baumgarten’s Fire Within, Fire Without: Dido on the Pyre a collaboration with composer Federico Bonacossa who uses the ancient instrument the Viola de Gamba for the score. It is a retelling of the Roman myth, chronicling the tale of a couple’s passionate love and a tragic suicide.

Tickets and additional information available HERE.