Area aerial dance troupe transforms urban spaces into art performances

It is common for audiences to admire the beauty and skill of a ballet dancer's graceful and controlled movements, but Blue Lapis Light, an aerial dance nonprofit, sends dancers into the air to create unique art performances.

"When you see a body fly through space with the backdrop of the sky and the immensity of that moment, it's really profound [and] breathtaking," said Sally Jacques, the founder, executive and artistic director of Blue Lapis Light. "You see bodies move in places we don't traditionally see them move, and with the architecture of the building, the building comes alive."

The nonprofit, located at 6701 Thomas Springs Road, was formed in 2005. Jacques said her transformative, aerial dance works evolved from the social justice, political and theater performances with which she was involved.

"I wanted to transcend that and to see this planet and all the creatures and the environment that we share as a whole and to create works that touched people, along with the collaborators, that touched people in the soul and the heart," Jacques said. "That was not a verbal language, but an imagistic language of beauty and transcendence that incorporated the human journey."

Jacques said performing outside of a theater is an experience she enjoys and allows the piece to fully connect with the audience.

Classes

To further the connection between the public and art, the nonprofit goes beyond engaging performances to help spread knowledge and experience of the craft through classes. There are four levels of instruction offered by Blue Lapis Light for students of all ages.

Nicole Whiteside, associate artistic director and performer, said classes are a way for the craft and the medium to be passed along and helps to bring out people's creativity.

"I love the uniqueness of all people, and this is a place where we learn how to express ourselves and how to safely explore our creativity and who we are," Whiteside said. "It's a very nurturing environment."

The nonprofit would like to keep that nurturing environment in a new space it is looking to purchase in Southwest Austin. Members are trying to raise $77,000 by April 27 for the new space. To donate to the nonprofit, visit www.bluelapislight.org.

'Heaven/Earth/One'

May 19–26

Blue Lapis Light is reprising one of its sold-out shows from its 2012 performance list.

Sally Jacques, founder of the nonprofit, said the show is about the "miraculousness" of being human and the connection between people, the earthly world and the spiritual world.

For more details on the show, see this month's calendar on Page 17 of this issue.

6701 Thomas Springs Road, 512-288-1929, www.bluelapislight.org, Twitter: @bluelapislight