Luminarium Dance Company sheds light on the art of choreography and movement.

By Tatiana Kombo

After a successful presentation at this year’s Somerville ArtBeat Festival, the Luminarium Dance Company begins its second season of non-traditional, thought-provoking performance and installation art by presenting its projects at the Armory from July 29 to August 4.

The Luminarium Dance Company is an outlet for the performing arts, but also a “think tank, a museum, a gallery for for contemporary dance and contemporary ideas.” Merging dance with film, music and video production, Luminarium is a true interdisciplinary gem.

Last January, the Luminarium Dance Company received a grant from the Somerville Cultural Council that allowed it to collect donated objects from the local community which were then utilized to construct an installation art piece. The latter will be used as a set in the company’s performance of Mythos: Pathos Project at the Armory.

Kimberleigh Holman, one of Luminarium’s artistic directors and choreographers says, “Hopefully Somerville, as an art appreciating community, is ready to explore my work just as I have been exploring it for the past few months.” Beyond its main production which will explore figures of Greek mythology, the company’s residency at the Armory will include master classes, talkbacks and gallery hours for the local community to learn more about the intersections of movement, sound and light.

In offering these activities, Luminarium shows how limitless the art of choreography can be. Merli Guerra, Luminarium’s second co-founder and artistic director describes Andromeda Solo, one of the company’s pieces, as “a new interpretation of the story of Andromeda, though unlike most versions of the myth, we are beginning her story at the end…when she wakes up in the sky as a constellation.”

The company will continue gathering materials from the Somerville community through the end of July in order to combine the objects and form new installation art pieces.

Tickets for Mythos:Pathos can be purchased online at www.luminariumdance.org/buy-tickets, or reserved by emailing tickets@luminariumdance.org or calling 617-477-4494. Tickets are $15 General Admission, $12 Students/Seniors/BDA Members. Performances are Friday, August 3 @ 8pm and Saturday, August 4 @ 8pm at the Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville, MA.

The company is also offering two masterclasses at the Armory on Saturday, July 28. Come take a technique and repertory class from 10am-11:30am, and/or enjoy a class on composition using handheld lights and film from 11:30am-1pm. Pre-register by emailing info@luminariumdance.org.