Hyperkinetic hip-hop dance meets classical epic poetry when Antics opens the summer season at the Ford with “Illuminated Manuscript,” a hip-hop dance theater interpretation of the ancient Mesopotamian poem “The Epic Of Gilgamesh.” Culture Spot LA readers can win a pair of free tickets to the show on Friday, June 7, at 8:30 p.m. (arrive early for pre-show beats with DJ Drez starting at 6:30 p.m.). Email editor@culturespotla.com with “Illuminated Manuscript” in the subject line for a chance to win.
What if dance were like handwriting, with bodies tracing words in space and movement revealing profound truths? Through the art of street dance and multimedia theater performance, Antics blurs the line between past and present with their vibrant interpretation of the world’s first narrative. Ten dancers portray key characters from the ancient Mesopotamian poem, bringing the tale of King Gilgamesh, who seeks to have power over all — his people, the gods, even death itself — alive on stage against an exciting backdrop of graffiti-inspired visuals and animation, and to the dynamic beat of an original score.
“Illuminated Manuscript” takes place on Friday, June 7. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for picnicking and pre-show beats with DJ Drez, and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. General admission is $30; full-time students with ID pay only $15, and children ages 12 and under are $12. VIP tickets, which include preferred seating, a gift bag and a meet and greet with the performers, are available for $75. On-site, stacked parking: $5 per vehicle. Free satellite parking and free shuttle to the Ford available at Universal City Metro Station lot at Lankershim Boulevard and Campo de Cahuenga. Shuttle stops in the “kiss and ride” area and cycles every 15-20 minutes. Tickets are available at www.FordTheatres.org or (323) 461-3673 (323 GO 1-FORD). To learn about discounts for groups of 8 or more, please call (323) 769-2147.