[NEohioPAL] Berko review: Inlet Dance Theatre

[Roy Berko]

INLET DANCE continues to impress and adds yet another
mission

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

Inlet Dance Theatre, which recently performed as part
of Cleveland Public Theatre’s DanceWorks program, is
noted for their dedication to personal and regional
growth and outreach.  As announced by Bill Wade, the
group’s Artistic Director during a concert interlude, 
the company added “global” to their mission.  Their
global outreach was clearly in evidence at the CPT
program.

The dance concert consisted of six movement segments
and a mini-lecture about Easter Island.  

The first dance, ‘TIDES AND SOLITUDE,’ was
choreographer Sally Wallace’s vision of the solitude,
peace and harmony that takes place when breaking the
traditional mold allows for the creation of joy.   
Using long poles and dressed in gauze costumes that
took on the air of sails, the dancers catalapulted
across the stage to Brian Eno and Robert Fripp’s
flowing music.  There was a soothing quality to the
entire blend of sound and movements which was
artistically performed by the corps.

‘OFFAXIS,’ in its premiere, was strongly danced by
Joshua Brown, who collaborated with Wade on the
choreography.  Costumed in plumage, Brown broke
outside the traditional box by allowing himself to not
only look different, but move in creative and
challenging ways.

‘AGE OF ISOLATION,’ a cleverly conceived Inlet
premiere, danced to the atonal music of Philip Glass,
found the cast starting a traditional dance sequence. 
 But, soon, the performers found a computer, cell
phones, ipods and electronic games pulling at their
attention.  Finally, each become so isolated in his or
her own technological world, that the dance itself
became non-existent.   This was a definite audience
pleaser.

‘DANCES FROM RAPA NUI’ were a series of Rapa Nui
dances.  Rapa Nui is the the native name for what
westerners call Easter Island.  The performers,
dressed in traditional Island clothing and emblazoned
with tribal makeup, used traditional native music to
give the audience a glimpse of the island’s culture.

This segment was developed as part of an international
artist exchange in which the Inlet dancers were taught
Rapa Nui movements by Easter Island residents Akahanga
Rapu Tudi and Joanna Pako.   The next phase of the
outreach will take place later this month when eight
company members travel to Easter Island for a two-week
residency where they will not only learn more about
the Rapa Nui culture, but expose the residents to
their first dose of modern dance. 

‘DREAM OF SLEEPING,’ which was based on research
provided by the National Sleep Foundation, was mostly
danced with closed eyes.  It found the dancers
gyrating on the floor as they attempted to fall
asleep, then sleep and then react to their
restlessness, dreams and nightmares.  Though a little
long, it was another creative piece by Wade set to the
music of former Clevelander, Ryan Lott.

The program ended with “OUT OF NOWHERE,’ performed to
singer Ada Sari’s operatic solos, as well as segments
of spoken words and some hip-hop.   The lighthearted
piece, centered, as most of the evening did, on how
culture influences each of us.  Choreographed by
Stephen Wynne, the dance asks, “Are relationships and
values always determined to change?”

Capsule judgement:  Bill Wade and his Inlet Dance
Theatre are a unique company.  They go outside the box
looking beyond traditional roles of performers and use
the medium to teach and enlighten.   Their DanceWorks
program was yet another well performed, creatively
conceived and entertaining evening of dance.




Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 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://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.  His reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


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