L.A. Stops TRAFFIC
BODYTRAFFIC & Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Mahalia Jackson Theater | November 15, 7:30 p.m.
When you think of Los Angeles, you probably picture large movie studios and red carpets. However, just off the Hollywood Walk of Fame, something just as awesome is happening on a stage, and its name is BODYTRAFFIC.
Since its founding in 2007 by Tina Finkelman Berkett and Lillian Barbeito, BODYTRAFFIC has been shaking up the dance world with its fearless creativity and magnetic stage presence. They've been called "one of the most talked-about companies nationwide" by the Los Angeles Times. BODYTRAFFIC is a powerhouse collective that thrives on collaboration, bringing together some of the most exciting choreographers in the world.
Unlike companies that revolve around a single artistic voice, BODYTRAFFIC's magic is its diversity. One piece might come from Kyle Abraham, blending social commentary with sleek, fluid movement. The next could be a high-voltage Hofesh Shechter creation; a quirky, humorous vignette by Micaela Taylor; or an emotional, storytelling-driven work by Trey McIntyre. The result? Every BODYTRAFFIC performance is fresh and unforgettable.
Their mantra says it all: "Without movement, nothing changes." BODYTRAFFIC tells human stories through dance leaving audiences inspired and moved.
On November 15 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater, New Orleans will get to experience that magic up close.
A Tribute to the Crescent City
BODYTRAFFIC is headed back to the Big Easy with a program that's as much a celebration as it is a remembrance. This special one-night-only event commemorates the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, paying tribute to the resilience, music, and soul of New Orleans.
At the heart of the evening is a rare restaging of Trey McIntyre's Ma Maison, a work originally commissioned by the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) in 2008. The piece was created in collaboration with the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and it's every bit as vibrant as the city that inspired it.
"This piece, entitled Ma Maison, was actually created many years ago for my own company, Trey McIntyre Project," McIntyre said. "It was commissioned by the New Orleans Ballet Association as a way of bringing the culture of New Orleans to the world in the face of the devastation after Hurricane Katrina. The city of New Orleans has been a part of my life since I was a young kid and has always been a place that I have had intense love for."
"Ma Maison is like a love letter to New Orleans," Artistic Director Tina Berkett said. This special performance also features excerpts from McIntyre's The Sweeter End, adding another layer of reflection and celebration. With Preservation Hall performing live on stage, the night promises to be both soulful and electrifying.
Rock 'n' Roll Meets Contemporary Dance
That's not all. The program kicks off with McIntyre's Mayday, an emotionally charged work set to the iconic music of Buddy Holly. McIntyre is known for his ability to blend storytelling with inventive, unexpected movement, and Mayday is no exception. It's Americana with a twist—both nostalgic and fresh at the same time.
McIntyre said that when he's creating, he often feels "like an archaeologist on the path toward being a choreographer." For Ma Maison, that meant doing a deep dive into the spirit of the Crescent City. "I spent a great deal of time in New Orleans with the mindset of this piece, speaking to people who are experts and cultural bearers in the city to make sure that I was getting it right," he explained.
"Every company that I work with in a dance piece has its own unique way of movement and its own unique personality," McIntyre said. "BODYTRAFFIC in particular is full of dancers who are at the top of their game, both technically and as artists. They have approached this work with such full-bodied openness and are quite simply having a very good time dancing it."
The BODYTRAFFIC Experience
If you've never seen BODYTRAFFIC live, you're in for a treat. The dancers are known for their versatility, slipping seamlessly from heart-pounding choreography to playful, theatrical storytelling. One moment, they're fierce and athletic; the next, they're charming and full of mischief.
"For the most part, I'm quite exacting about what the actual movement is, but within this piece especially, there are sometimes movement or shape challenges that they are required to fill in the blanks for and to create within the moment," McIntyre explained. "The dancers are these jangly skeletons, and the looseness required to convey this relies on a dancer's ability to play within a movement phrase."
Even the dancers' Los Angeles roots shaped the process. "The city of Los Angeles recently went through a fairly major devastation from wildfires," McIntyre said. "I think that's been somewhat helpful in informing these young dancers' perception of the disaster that happened around Katrina. We actually first started rehearsing the piece shortly after the fires here had ended."
BODYTRAFFIC isn't just an L.A. sensation, though. They've toured across 30 states and more than 20 countries, even serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States. Wherever they go, they bring the spirit of L.A. with them. Through outreach programs, master classes, and youth mentorship, BODYTRAFFIC continues to inspire the next generation of dancers, proving that dance isn't just performance but also a way to build community.
Why This Show Matters
In a world where streaming and scrolling compete for our attention, BODYTRAFFIC reminds us why live performance is irreplaceable. And for New Orleans, this night will be especially meaningful. The 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina was a moment for reflection, remembrance, and celebration of just how far the city has come.
Through McIntyre's choreography, Preservation Hall's music, and BODYTRAFFIC's fearless dancers, the evening will become a testament to the Crescent City's unbreakable spirit.
