Totally Unauthorized

I can dance like this, I just need a really flexible girl

Last night the movies, tonight the ballet.  We went to see Company C at the Lesher Center, and enjoyed it as always.

Company C is hardly classical ballet–I just can’t get into tutus and swans and the hunter in the forest.  This is all modern, very modern, dance.  And I like it very much.

There were 4 different works presented last night.  The first, Dreams to Remember was choreographed by Amy Seiwert, who is also the artistic director of the Smuin Ballet, which we also subscribe to.  In it, various couples dance to the music of Otis Redding.  It was romantic and exhilarating at the same time, highlighted by the solo performance of Aaron Jackson, the outstanding dancer of the troupe.

The second work was hardly dance at all, more a study in movement.  Nine Person Precision Ball Passing was just that–three row of three performers just passing balls among themselves in a rapid fire juggling act.  It was mildly diverting, but not great.

Then Cavalcade, which was a lesson in non-narrative dance with minimalist music–I had to come home and Google the composer, Steve Reich, to find out who and what I had been listening to.  Too often, it seemed to me that the dancers were engaging in some sort of terpsichorean brownian motion, lacking purpose or meaning.  Of course, I might just be the biggest hick in the room.

The final movement, Akimbo was choreographed by Charles Anderson, the founder, artistic/managing director and driving force of the company.  Five pieces of music, five different combinations of dancers.  Simple black costumes and low, contrasty lighting kept the focus on the emotions ably presented.

Modern ballet isn’t for everyone, but I find it much more accessible, enjoyable and interesting than Swan Lake.  Give Company C or the Smuin Ballet a try.