[NEohioPAL]Berko review: INLET DANCE (Cleveland Public Theatre)

[Roy Berko]

Inlet wows audience at DanceWorks 07

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

Bill Wade, the Artistic Director of Inlet Dance
Theatre, which is performing as part of Cleveland
Public Theatre’s DanceWorks 07, is first and foremost
a teacher.  His long list of educational assignments
centers on “impacting the lives of young people
through educational programs.”  He works with public
school kids, often from school districts with limited
financial means.  This philosophy carries over into
his dance company is composed of only four members.  
There also are three apprentices and eight trainees. 
Again, a stress on education.

Don’t get the idea that there is a lack of
professionalism.  The screaming, standing ovation that
the  company received in their Danceworks opening
night performances, and the continued notes in my
program which say, “wow,” “creative,” and “dynamic,”
attest to the excitement and excellence of the
program.

The evening opened with ‘SNOW,’ danced to the flowing
and powerful music of Ryan Lott, the wunderkindt of
local composers who creates for both Inlet and
Groundworks Dancetheatre.  As is the signature of
Wade’s choreography, a strong gymnastic tone underlies
the dancer’s movements.  Beautifully costumed in
unitards painted with nature scenes by Kristin Wade,
the piece featured six dancers transforming their
bodies into a series of snowflakes.  Displaying
strength, the flowing and powerful piece effectively
paralleled movements to the music.

‘WINGED OPPOSITION’ was choreographed to surreal music
and featured effective mechanical movements which were
repeated over and over.  Somewhat overlong, the format
gave the illusion of choppiness, with the parts not
always blending together.  

‘A CLOSE SHAVE’ was totally delightful.  Danced with
muscular power by apprentice Joshua Brown and trainee
Justin Stentz, Wade’s sense of humor flowed forth.  It
examines the concept of “a close call” which spanned
the interaction between the dancers from mirroring
each other as they shaved, to putting themselves into
various risk areas intended to “clean up one’s image.”
 Brown and Wade were nothing short of amazing.  The
piece ended to screaming applause.

Stentz, who is exciting to watch on stage, and has to
be ranked with the best male dancers in the area, used
his gym-ripped muscular body to work with the equally
proficient and powerful Leila Pelhan in ‘imPAIRed’ to
create visual body intertwinings that were fascinating
to watch.  The dance is performed with both dancers
blindfolded.  It is the result of the company
conducting residencies for visually impaired and blind
students at the Cleveland Sight Center.  It highlights
sensitivity, caring and trust.   This was a “WOW!’
experience.

‘IN, NOT OF,’ a company premiere, danced to another
Lott piece, featured the company as well as the
apprentices and trainees.  The choreography is the
result of Wade’s visit, as part of his participation
in an international artist exchange program, to Easter
Island.  He used the island’s culture, images and
philosophies to create a narrative work.  The
disciplined, flowing cast members used the company’s
signature gymnastic movements to create an appealing
piece.

Capsule judgement:  Bill Wade is a fine choreographer
who proficiently teaches his dancers his gymnastic and
creative style of movements.  The overall effect was a
very enjoyable evening of dance.

Inlet Dance performs through March 25  at Cleveland
Public Theatre as part of the venue’s DANCEWORKS 07.  
 Other companies to perform as part of the festival
are:  Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre (March
22-25), Antaeus Dance (March 29-April 1), Groundworks
Dancetheater (March 29-April 1), Travesty Dance Group
(April 12-15).  For tickets call 216-631-2727.


Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly 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.  His reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


 
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