San Diego Couple Explores Love, Culture In New Dance Show

SAN DIEGO, CA -- The classic tale “Romeo and Juliet” is now being told in a 21st century way thanks to a San Diego couple, who created and wrote “Beyond Babel,” an immersive dance show that tells the story of two lovers as they cope with the issues currently facing the world.

Created by couple Keone and Mari Madrid, seasoned actors and dancers, and produced by Hideaway Circus, "Beyond Babel" tells its stories with the help of 12 elite dancers who prance to contemporary music.

Mari Madrid said the show took two years to develop and was inspired by the 2016 presidential election as Americans saw a split U.S.

“We wanted to do something that had to do with love because we are known for our partner work,” said Mari Madrid, who has been dancing professionally for nearly 20 years. “We began writing the show after the 2016 elections and we were inspired by the way the country was interacting with each other.”

But the story doesn’t just explore how two lovers cope with current issues, it also explores other relationships, Keone Madrid said.

“The show explores a ton of relationships whether it’s between friends, sisters, lovers or the authorities,” said Keone Madrid, who has worked in the industry for more than a dozen years. “It explores the way a community of people interact with each other. When you put all these personalities in a pot, there are so many stories to be told.”

What makes the show truly unique is the plot being told completely through urban dance, the duo said. In fact, it’s what the couple is known for. The couple’s credits include choreographing dances for Justin Bieber and Kendrick Lamar, among other celebrities. They also starred in the NBC show “World of Dance.”

But Mari Madrid said the couple is most excited to bring to life their project, “Beyond Babel.”

“It's been a long time dream of ours to create a full length dance show,” Mari Madrid said. “It's a bit surreal that we're finally in a place to be making that a reality. We're also so excited to be collaborating again with Hideaway Circus to make this a new, fresh, and unique show experience.”

“Beyond Babel” runs through Nov. 18 at the Beyond Babel Theater at 2625 Imperial Ave. in San Diego. Tickets start at $35.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.BeyondBabelShow.com.

--Photo courtesy of "Beyond Babel"