Immediacy is the trend of our times and this tendency has reached contemporary dance with a new challenge for the Tijuana/San Diego dance community.

Such as a short poem or haiku or a short story written on twitter, the dance challenge is to create and perform six to twelve minute choreography in a stage just 4×4 feet.

Performers are sweating already. The challenge is designed to entice the creative process and promote modern dance before the big annual festival Cuerpos en tránsito (Bodies in transit), an event created 15 years ago that now attracts performers from all over the world.

“We want to take advantage of the thriving night scene and the new trust people have in their city” Henry Torres, co director of Lux Boreal dance company explains, “for performers it is a challenge to be so close to the public, in a very intimate setting, added to space and time constraints, it makes them ask, what can I do in such a tinny space?”

The challenge was put forth by Lux Boreal along with the Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT) as part of an effort to take art performances out of conventional spaces and offer it to a wider audience that might otherwise not be exposed to such expression.

“This is our second year with ‘get the ball rolling’ interventions,” Jorge Medina promotions director for CECUT, explained, “last year we did our Red Light intervention, where dancers performed on busy street intersections, and this year we are taking it to the busy Tijuana nightlife.”

Four bars are participating in the challenge with weekly performances on February 23rd, and March first, 8th and 15th. The bars are Mofo, Jacas Tequilería; Le Conteiner and Hangar 27.

The events are free to the public and special prices packages will be sold so people can pay just $20 dollars to enjoy eight dance performances at Cuerpos en Tránsito on the week of April 23rd to the 30th.

The final challenge will be held at CECUT on Friday March 30th, it will cost just $8 and it will include live performances by two of the hippest bands in Tijuana La Ballena de Jonás and Madame Ur. The winners will take home a $1600 cash Price and the three finalists will get to perform at Cuerpos en Tránsito in April.

“The challenge is not only aimed at professional dancers, it also includes physical theater, performers and dance students. The idea is to include all disciplines that involve movement as an artform” Ángel Arámbula Lux Boreal co-director explains.

“The ultimate goal is to fill this city with dance despite the main festival being three months away. It’s a challenge but limitations can brew some magic” says Torres with a smile.