“Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin. Dance me through the panic ’til I’m gathered safely in. Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove. Dance me to the end of love.”
So sang Leonard Cohen on his 1984 song “Dance me to the end of love.” Cohen’s deeply spiritual lyrics, baritone voice, and spartan instrumentation are the backdrop for three international choreographers—Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Ihsan Rustem—when Cal Poly Arts presents Ballets Jazz Montréal’s Dance Me: The Music of Leonard Cohen in the Performing Arts Center SLO on Tuesday, Sept. 22 (7:30 p.m.; $49 to $75 at calpolyarts.org).
The dance show is “an exclusive creation inspired by the rich and profound work of Montreal-born poet, artist, and songwriter, Leonard Cohen,” Cal Poly Arts announced. “Approved by Cohen during his lifetime, this unique tribute to the celebrated artist evokes the great cycles of existence, as described in Cohen’s music and deeply thoughtful poems.
“Surrounded by a team of renowned designers, ‘Dance Me’ blends stagecraft, visuals, music, dramaturgy, and choreography to pay tribute to Montreal’s greatest ambassador,” the announcement continued. “Dance, music, video, and lighting punctuate this comprehensive and multidisciplinary show.” ∆
This article appears in Sept 3-10, 2026.
