Ashani Dances presents Love Me/Leave Me Alone for its Baltimore debut. The concert is a collection of danced vignettes that take inspiration from five Edward Hopper paintings and provides the audience with a voyeuristic glimpse into the lives of seven city dwellers. This year’s concert features DMV talent with alumni from Baltimore School of the Arts, Goucher College, Governor’s School of the Arts, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Ashani Dances is Baltimore’s newest dance company. The group which was founded by Iyun Ashani Harrison in Seattle, WA, moved to Baltimore in 2015.

Michael Upchurch of the Seattle Times writes; “This troupe is exceptionally accomplished, and their showcase of works by artistic director Iyun Ashani Harrison is a knockout. The dancers have strong, agile ballet skills which are given intoxicating African-Caribbean twists … joyous, sassy, intricate!”

Iyun Ashani Harrison is a performer, choreographer and educator based in Baltimore. He is an alumnus of The Juilliard School who went on to dance professionally with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Ailey II and National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica. His professional accomplishments and desire to create opportunities for local, developing artists is a welcome addition to the Baltimore art scene.