[NEohioPAL]Berko review: GARTH FAGAN and dance previews

[Roy Berko]

‘GARTH FAGAN DANCE,’ DANCE PREVIEWS & OTHER
ATTRACTIONS

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--


Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	


GARTH FAGIN PLEASES OHIO THEATRE AUDIENCE

Many choreographers are well-know for their unique
style...think Bob Fosse, Twyla Tharp and Michael Kidd.
 You see their works and you know it’s their creation.
 But few have an entire language of dance which has
been identified with them.  Such is the case of Garth
Fagan.  Noted for his individuality, unmannered
approach and virtuosity, his dancers do long adagio
balances, move in more than one direction at a time
and do precise movements while giving the illusion of
being free flowing.

In their recent performance as part of the Dance
Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Community College dance
collaboration, they pleased the audience with a
fulfilling if overly long evening. 

The numbers included the enthralling ‘PRELUDE,’ a
gymnastic/acrobatic no-story piece started without
music and then developed into a series of intricate
and powerful movements to the African-Caribbean music
of Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) and Max Roach. 
‘SONATA AND THE AFTERNOON’ was meticulous and
emotional with fine performances by Bill Ferguson and
Sharon Skeppie.  The audience favorite appeared to be
‘TOURING JUBILEE,’ a joyous presentation with a
built-in reprise and delightful curtain call.  ‘LIFE:
DARK/LIGHT,’ in it’s Ohio premiere, found the dancers
in psychedelic costumes moving to the music of Billy
Bang.  ‘KIAMIA,’ subtitled “Killed in Action/Missing
in Action,” was a powerful marching piece in which the
fatigue-clothed duo of dancers moved in a series of
marching maneuvers to an emotional packed conclusion. 
Norwood Pennewell and Bill Ferguson, held the audience
captive with their performances.  The evening
concluded with ‘TRANSLATION, TRANSITION,’ danced to
music of the jazz Jamaica All Stars.

Dance Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Community College’s
next collaboration will be the ALVIN AILEY DANCE
THEATRE from Friday, April 7th through Sunday, April 9
at the Palace Theatre.    Renowned for its
soul-stirring, high energy performances, Alvin Ailey
American Dance Theater is one of the world’s great
dance companies. Taking popular music, gospel and jazz
and fusing modern dance and ballet, this company of
athletic dancers radiates a passionate and explosive
energy that is purely infectious.  For tickets contact
216-241-6000 or visit tickets.com.

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE TO PRESENT ‘LE CORSAIRE’

American Ballet Theatre is generally recognized as one
of the world’s great dance companies.  For the fourth
consecutive season Playhouse Square Center will
present ABT as part of its Rainbow Babies and
Children’s Hospital Ballet Series.  If you haven’t
seen them before, they are a MUST SEE!     If you
have, you know of the excitement the company induces.

This season, from March 16-19, ABT will present ‘LE
CORSAIRE,’ a full-story opera based on the writings of
Lord Byron.  This is an exotic tale of when pirates
ruled the seas.  It contains all the swashbuckling
requirements:  a beautiful enslaved harem girl, a
noisy Turkish bazaar, a pirate grotto, beautiful
dancing girls and a wealthy Pasha.  Wrapped in
suspense and romance, it is filled with lots of pirate
fights and even a shipwreck!

For tickets contact 216-241-6000 or visit tickets.com.


‘DANCE BREAK’--CPT’S ‘DANCE WORKS ‘06”

Again this year, Cleveland Public Theatre’s spaces
will be filled with dance from March 2-26 as many of
the area’s dance companies are given an opportunity to
strut their stuff in he venue’s intimate settings.

Companies include:  

MORRISON DANCE, March 2-5, 9-12, ‘THE MAD MASK MAKER
OF MAIGH EO,’ choreographed by Sarah Morrison, the
performance  is based on William Butler Yeats’ story
with a new script by Irish-American playwright,
Christopher Johnston.  It will include verses recited
by Derdriu Ring, Meg Chamberlain and Andrew Narten. 

ANTAEUS DANCE, March 2-5, ‘BURN THE HEAVENS,’ explores
the concept that humans are capable of great cruelty
by exploring the juncture of trust and aggression.  
Choreography is by Joan Meggitt and guest artists
include Desmond David, Brian Houlihan and Bob
McCullough.

INLET DANCE, March 9-12, ‘THE DOOR AND OTHER WORKS,’
addresses both social issues and the human condition. 
Steve Rooks choreographs the world premiere of ‘THE
DOOR,’ a suite of dances to Brahms Variations. 
Stephen Wynne’s ‘’SKIRTING THE HEART,’ is a
tanztheater modern German expressionist dance about a
journey toward wholeness which will be receiving its
Ohio premiere.  Additional works will include ‘THIS
COULD HURT,’ and ‘ASCENSION.”

COMING OF AGE AND FAMILY OUTING, March 16-19, features
a dance/theater piece created by Chris DiCello in
which she examines nine decades in the life of a woman
who is shadowed by a Kabuki-inspired figure who
assists her through the transitions from decade to
decade.

CLEVELAND CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE, March 16-19,
celebrates the male dancer and highlights his
athleticism, power and strength in an evening
entitled, ‘THE MEN’S PROJECT;  MEN IN MOTION.’

GROUNDWORKS DANCETHEATRE, March 23-26.  Returning to
CPT for its seventh annual performances series, this
Groundworks program features the company’s new
branding theme, ‘Notsoobvious Entertainment.’  The
program, with two world premieres, will feature the
Groundworks company dancing to the choreography of KT
Niehoff, the founder of Velocity Dance Center in
Seattle,  In addition, Artistic Director David
Shimotakahra will create a new work with original
music by Gustavo Aguilar.  GROUNDWORKS is a must
see!!!!

SRISHTI DANCES OF INDIA, March 25-26.  Featuring
classical Indian dance, the collaborative work will
feature two classical dance styles of internationally
acclaimed artists from the US and India in a program
entitled, ‘YUGMA:  ODISSI BHARATANATYAM SCULPTURAL
KINETIC.’

For tickets, which range in price from $10 to $24
call216-631-2727 or visit www.cptonline.org.


Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.

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