Mobile Dance Theatre to Roll Into West Hollywood

Few artists have taken William Shakespeare's assertion that "all the world's a stage" quite so literally as choreographer Heidi Duckler.

Duckler's dance theater has used locales ranging from parking lots to laundromats across Los Angeles as their performance stages. Now, Duckler is embarking on her most ambitious effort to transform the city into her creative stomping ground.

Her latest venture, "At The Oasis," will transform a 1961 Oasis Trailer into a mobile performance space. It's first stop will be at the West Hollywood Library, 625 San Vicente Blvd., on Saturday, April 27 at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre members, seniors, and students; $15 general public.

The show will also make stops in Culver City, South Los Angeles and East Los Angeles.

"At the Oasis" will consist of four dancers performing both inside and on the cozy trailer, using the tight quarters to "explore the idea of home as something one takes with them as they travel, move and participate in daily life," Duckler said.

The idea was conceived in Portland, Duckler said, where was inspired by the city's popular food trucks to create a performance space out of trailer. 

Duckler said that the travel element was borne out of a desire to forge lasting connections with audiences. She said that after leaving a performance space, the community bonds created during the show tend to dissolve.

With the traveling show, which calls for more audience participation and integration, Duckler said she's hoping the connections formed with be longer lasting.

"It opens up a lot of flexibility," Duckler said. "It offers more opportunities for public engagement when the community and neighborhood and place bring the performance to life."

"At the Oasis" isn't the first performance for which Duckler has choreographed for a small stage--she's utilized a vintage refrigerator as well--but it may be one of her greatest challenges yet.

"I love the challenge of choreographing in small space, sometimes the biggest challenges is accommodating audiences," she said.