Gay As In Happy

Singer, dancer, choreographer and creative virtuoso, Peter Kalivas first dancing in his church's Greek Folk Dance Troupe. He studied hard, played soccer and wrestled, sang and danced his way through high school, earning himself a full scholarship to Bennington College in Vermont, one of the most expensive Ivy League schools in the country. More than anything though, he wanted to be a dancer.

He took his first steps into the medium while at Bennington with electives in modern dance, reigniting his one, true passion. Within a year, he returned the scholarship and dropped of Bennington, auditioned for and got into The University of the Arts Dance Program in Philadelphia and began his illustrious journey into and on to, some of the world's greatest dance companies and stages throughout the U.S., Europe Australia. The famed Alvin Ailey and his American Dance Theater, the Iwanson Dance Company, the Bavarian State Opera Ballet and the Sean Curran Company in N.Y.C. And we haven't even discussed his broad musical and singing career. It's extensive and continues, just like his work with his namesake, PGK Dance Project.

HERE'S THE STORY OF PGK AND ITS FOUNDER, WHO DANCED HIS WAY... WELL, ALL OVER THE WORLD.

When asked to explain its concept and his reasons for starting the unique company, Kalivas offered this: "I started The PGK Project, now The PGK Dance Project in 1994, just me and four ac- complished, female dancers from the professional school I taught at in Munich. A genuine interest in choreography and having a vehicle for my work was my initial reason for starting the company. That has since changed." As to its unique name, he offered this: "There is a clear reason why it is called a 'project' versus a 'company,' and that is simply because one feels open and the other static. 'Company,' suggests something that is only ever one thing, in its truest sense, my 'project' is ongoing, becoming whatever it needs and wants to be at any given time."

He explained further: "When I relocated the company back to NYC in 1996 and continually, since relocating to San Diego in 2002, we have been a repertory company commissioning works from choreographers of diverse styles and points of view, performed by my seven-member company alongside my work. Doing this creates a landscape of point of view, with varied approaches, styles and music over the course of one show. We are a multi-ethnic, varied group of shapes, sizes and cultural representations, so we can appeal to a much more diverse, comprehensive audience."

Kalivas explained the show at the Diversionary Theatre, "Gay (as in happy) Songs and Dances," "The heart of the project was to create a vehicle with the potential to merge gay and straight, theater, dance and music audiences. Though I am gay, I don't necessarily make 'gay'works, meaning work that
is centered on or around LGBT issues, concerns and conditions. I do very much however, make entertaining and provocative work that I hope has the potential to attract everyone... of any orientation."

He continued, describing the concept in depth, "We mash well known pop songs with well known theatre songs, sung live by Barbara Schoenhofer, Dairrick Hodges and myself. The sophisticated musicianship that goes along with such 'mashing', which you need to hear to appreciate how difficult it can be, appeals to that sophisticated music group. People are really impressed with the quality and execution."

"I performed as a dancer in musicals on and off Broadway, in national tours, ballet and contemporary/modern dance," he continued, "I even did a stint with Cirque du Soleil, so I can choreograph in a range of styles and ideas. This show allows me to show that range, creating choreography behind many of the mashings. I wanted there to be an experiential, immersive quality to the show as well, so, several times we lead and direct the audience to sing along with us, hold up cue cards with the words to some of the songs and at the end, we even stand the audience up and we all dance together. I work hard to get away from the traditional "Sit and Stare," like when going to a movie. For the folks who want to watch and listen, you can. For those with their own YouTube Channel, who take selfies all day, we got you covered, because you can be in parts of our show. Just don't try to upstage me!

So, what is the theme? Universal FUN!

"Gay (as in happy) Songs and Dances" runs Thursday, April 6 through Sunday, April 9 at the Diversionary Theatre. For tickets and more information, call 619.220.0097 or go to diversionary.org

For much more about the PGK Project and Peter Kalivas, go to ragemonthly.com