What a joy to see two veterans of the Edison stage teaming up in a new production. The East Village Opera Company and David Parsons Dance joined forces and the Joyce Theatre rocked wit the energy of these two dynamic companies.
The way in which the singers move with and within the dancing artists is very reminiscent of and honoring the traditions of deaf theatre - fusing physical and spoken languages - in this rock opera contemporary ballet. But don't think tutus.
In this lively tale, two brothers vie for the love of the enchanting Maria. Though tragic, all is not forlorn, for true love, when real, lasts forever.
While the volume could be tempered on occasions, the evening celebrated the artistry of both companies and resulted in a collaboration even greater than the sum of its parts.
Cedar Lake - contemporary ballet: I've enjoyed watching this company develop. Committed to exploring new works and expanding the expression of contemporary ballet, Cedar Lake certainly takes risks. It really pays off in works such as the final piece in the evening, "Frame of View" choreographed by Didy Veldman, with music by artists as varied as Kronos Quartet, Nina Simone and Dean Martin. Both playful and energetic, the work shifted moods often but maintained focus throughout. The opening piece, "memory/measure," was less successful for me. Billed as a "very abstract dance play, scored for voice and electronics," the piece never seemed to coalesce. My bias against the very abstract is clearly evident here. Throughout the entire evening, one thing is certainly clear: these are extraordinary dancers given new and exciting challenges.
Garth Fagan - In this 20 minute showcase I was able to see the company for the first time in over a decade. Garth continues to work with strong dancers. Since only sections of pieces were seen, it may have contributed to my overall impression; however, the pieces seemed more chordal than melodic, occasional beautiful moments disconnected from one another.
Aszure Barton - This company won me over, without question. Whimsical, sensual and dynamic, even in a 20 minute showcase, it's clear that this is a playful and masterful storyteller. She builds off a primal scream and a core sexuality. With tongue in cheek and a glimmer in the eye, this company plays its audience beautifully.
DCDC - This is a company I need to see more. This showcase, featuring "Children of the Passage" certainly shows the passion and commitment of the performers. That final selection brought out the best from all of the dancers - a signature piece of the company, it is clear that every performer enjoys that that - and the energy shines through. The other pieces lacked the same spirit and possibly suffered in the showcase format.
Conny Janssen - I was disappointed by this showcase. Clearly these are beautiful dancers. Their piece currently touring which has received great acclaim, (Re)Bound, is too complex for a showcase format, so a separate piece was selected to showcase the company. The replacement piece never grabbed me. A collection of shorter snipets of varied works might have been more effective, but the company was limited by only sending three dancers for the conference. Airfare from Europe certainly is a good excuse though and I look forward to seeing this company in a better situation.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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