Why are raves all the rage? They are a place to escape one's daily life, a place to let the music set you free and a place to experience a heightened sense of community. For SPOTLIGHT readers who are not familiar with this phenomenon of modern youth culture, a rave is basically a dance party where the energy is directed by a skilled disc jockey spinning a continuous mix of danceable electronic music. Dancing for hours on end to repetitive music induces a trance-like state, which moves one's consciousness out of body and mind. Many see trance as a disassociated state, Wally Cardona however, sees it as a state in which we can connect to something outside of ourselves. Spotlight made a brief connection with Cardona to ask him about his company's latest work, Trance Territory.

Cardona has been a successful dancer for more than eleven years and has been creating his own work for over six years. It wasn't until just a couple of years ago however, that he went clubbing for the first time. Like in other cultures where trance is associated with elements of ritual and transformation, Cardona experienced an actual physical change in the club culture on trance night with a live DJ interacting with the audience.

A couple of months after his that first encounter, Cardona had the opportunity to speak with a Haitian priestess and see trance culture through a demonstration of Haitian music and voodoo ritual. He learned that in the Haitian culture there are people called horses that are in a trance-like state and get mounted by spirits. These people seem to be in a daze all the time, not unlike many homeless people in our urban metropolises.

As cerebral as a conversation with Cardona may be, his work is just as physical. The work is filled with powerful kinetic explosions and aims to let the body inform the mind. The work is nothing unless it makes a connection. "My goal is for people to come out of the theater different," Cardona says sincerely, then lightens the mood by reassuring that"it's a kick ass show!" Discriminating valley patrons and underground rave going youths alike shouldn't miss this show that unites ancient rite, modern technology, and rigorous structure in a transcendent and spiritual experience for the 21st Century.

For more information on this and all the other OFF Center Series events call 545-2804.