DANCE / EILEEN SONDAK : Lewitzky, Doyenne of Dance, Given Role in Arts Festival

UC San Diego’s annual Undergraduate Arts Festival features prominent figures in literature and the arts. But it has yet to name someone from the world of dance to the prestigious post of Regents Lecturer--at least not until this year.

“The committee decided to dedicate the festival to Danah Fayman (founder of the San Diego Foundation for the Performing Arts and patron saint of dance in San Diego) for her contributions to the community and the university,” said Patricia Rincon of the festival committee. “That sparked our interest in getting a dance artist.”

Without hesitation, they selected Los Angeles-based Bella Lewitzky, the most respected dancemaker in the country without a New York address. A trailblazer in modern dance for five decades, Lewitzky has earned a litany of honors for choreographic achievement. Her residency on campus, today through Saturday, will include intensive workshop sessions and a free public lecture Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Peterson Hall.

“Bella is a wonderful spokesperson to bring here,” said Rincon. “She has the knowledge in choreography and dance to share with other university artists. She has done a lot of experimental work in the field, and she has the ability to explain things very well, which is quite rare. She’s also an excellent instructor, and she’ll spend a lot of time lecturing and teaching classes here.”

Lewitzky is ecstatic about “penetrating the citadel of the university,” she said by phone from Phoenix. “You don’t get a lot of interchange among departments in other residencies, and I think the opportunity to be a scholar in residence--where I can address my favorite subject without (departmental) barriers--is wonderful. I’ve never done it before, and I don’t know of any other program like this anywhere.

“My mission is to help dance receive recognition for its value as a serious subject. People still think of it as entertainment or athleticism. They don’t accept it as a form of communication, like a novel or a symphony. There’s a limit to how much you can do in a short period of time, but this is a lever, and without question it should help local dance.”

Lewitzky’s lecture on Wednesday, titled “Why the Arts?” is free, and as Rincon noted, “we’re really trying to open these events to the public.”

Typically, dance companies are reflections of their directors, in more ways than one. If you take a close look at all the local troupes, just about every one is anchored to the choreography as well as the artistic vision of its head honcho. The one glaring exception is Stage Seven Dance Theater, led by Kathryn Irey.

Irey not only maintains the lowest public profile of any company captain, but she also exerts the least stylistic influence on her dancers. In fact, not one work in the company’s repertory bears her choreographic stamp.

“I tend to stay in the background,” she acknowledged in a recent break from teaching company class. “Many times, egos get in the way of art, and some day my ego may loom large as well. But for now, I’m just happy to leave a lingering image in the audience’s mind and to foster the development of my dancers. I have no desire to choreograph for them.”

Irey credits an eclectic dance background for her focus and notes, “It’s very stimulating to work with different choreographers. It’s my job to create an atmosphere where people are comfortable enough to create. And it’s my experience that offering audiences variety can fill houses.”

So far, the formula has worked well enough for Irey and her company of 12. They have survived on little more than a shoestring budget for years. And they manage to attract respectable houses, despite a penchant for scheduling their infrequent appearances in direct competition with other dance groups.

Good Timing: It’s just a coincidence, but the Lewitzky residency at UC San Diego dovetails with the Dance Program’s annual faculty concert. The performance takes place at Mandeville Auditorium at 8 p.m. on June 3. Lewitzky won’t be contributing any dance designs, but as Rincon noted, “She’ll be very much involved with the dancers, so she should have a lot of influence on the concert.”

Although Jean Isaacs was listed among the contributing choreographers to the San Diego Area Dance Alliance’s Performing Arts Lab on May 21, her work never made it to the stage.

“I wanted to show a new piece so I could get some feedback on it before we take it to Europe,” said Isaacs. “But after the New York trip and everything else, I was too wiped out to get it ready in time. I guess we’ll just have to wait until we get back and do it at one of our own low-techs.”

Isaacs and a few of her Three’s Company dancers will depart on June 9 for three weeks of performances and workshops throughout Switzerland.

Ken Herman is on vacation. His regular Spotlight column will resume upon his return.