Louise Reichlin & Dancers/LA Choreographers & Dancers created a new interactive program for families in April 2009 with performances at The Jazz Bakery in Culver City. The dance/theatre/multimedia performance is called "The Better to Bite You With" and features a modernized fairytale based on "Little Red Riding Hood," found in just about every culture around the world. The interactive work was inspired by the new technology in computer x-rays that creator Louise Reichlin's dentist used last year. A number of these type of x-rays are actually part of the presentation, along with original masks and a set-piece by Stephen Kwok. Part of "The Reality Series", this new work turns to the theme of teeth, one of the most basic and important parts of ours (and many animals') bodies.

"The Better to Bite You With" begins with a vaudevillian collage of mouths and toothbrushes. As we enter the story line, we meet Lil Red and her Mama Blue, we discover where she got her name and the dilemma she has, a toothache to be precise. Sent to see her Grandmother who is to take her to the dentist, Lil Red must travel through a park where many different animals live. Afraid and reluctant to go through, she dances with a flock of birds in front of the park. Later Lil Red meets the infamous Wolf, but the story builds to an unexpected and creative conclusion. This sophisticated theatrical adventure is woven with technology, narration, music ranging from Dixieland to King Crimson, and of course dance.

The original dancers in the video are Genna Forkey, Samantha Hoe, Anaja Holloway, Steven Nielsen, Sung-Yun Park, Louise Reichlin and Jaclyn Speas. The work was made possible in part by the Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program with support from Sony Pictures Entertainment. The X-rays graphics were provided by Gendex and Dexis.

The next performance will be presented by the City of Fontana in the Steelworkers Auditorium on December 2, 2009, at 6:00 pm, free to the public. It will be made possible, in part, by funding from Target. Please see our web site for more information: http://www.LAChoreographersAndDancers.org (less info)