[NEohioPAL] Berko review: GROUNDWORKS (CAIN PARK)

[Roy Berko]

Groundworks
great at Cain Park!
 
Roy Berko
 
(Member,
Dance Critics Association)
 
--THE TIMES
NEWSPAPERS--
 
Lorain
County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times  
 
COOLCLEVELAND.COM
 
Groundworks
has, since its inception 11 years ago, continued to prove that it is
Cleveland’s premiere small troupe dance company.  Their programs continue to be focused, challenging and
well-performed.  If possible, they
outdid themselves in their recent Cain Park three-peat performance.
 
The
Cain Park program consisted of three top notch works.  ‘Allow,” choreographed by Artistic Associate Amy Miller,
which, like Miller, was strong, purposeful and powerful.  Initially performed with little physical
interaction and touch , the dancers used static and gymnastic moves to
eventually blend together, effectively executing lifts, and flying bodies to
create an exhausting gymnastic number that well paralleled the atonal sounds of
Dennis Dugan.
 
Choreographed
by Alex Ketley, to the music of Bon Iver and Phillip Jeck, “For You,” was a
flowing, interactive, audience pleasing creation.   Really two dances of different style and purpose, the
first segment was high powered, the latter a emotional section which was
tenderly  danced by Miller and
Kelly Brunk.   The ending was
met with a screaming reaction of approval from those in attendance.
 
Shimotakahara’s
“Boom Boom,’”in its world premiere, is a wonderful new addition to Groundworks’
repertoire.  Danced to eight
different musical pieces, each developed a unique perspective of jazz sounds
and interactions between people.  Highlight segments found Shimotakahara vertically dancing on the side of
a wall in “Black Mattie.”  Sarah
Perrett and Damien Highfield climbed on, over and beneath each other while
interpreting “Sitting on Top of the World.“ In “Today I Sing the Blues,” Felice
Bagley and Brunk performed the entire piece without losing contact with the
theatre’s back wall…quite a dance accomplishment.
 
When
it has been necessary to “restock” his company, Artistic David Shimotakahara
has an eye for picking new performers that fit the perfectionist mold of the
troupe.   His latest find is
Kelly Brunk.  Tall and handsome,
with a sparkling personality that lights up the stage, the lanky blonde is in
control of his body at all times.  His lifts, gymnastic moves, gestures and eye contact, are well performed
and purposeful.  He’s a wonderful
addition to Groundworks, as was Sarah Perrett, a short time ago.
 
 
Capsule
judgement:   Danceworks’ Cain
Park 2009 performance was a total delight.  What a treat!  It was dancing and choreography at its best!  Bravo!
 The company’s next performances will be at the Heinz Poll 2009 Summer
Dance Festival, on July 21 and August 1 at Akron’s Glendale Cemetery, 50
Glendale Avenue, Akron and at Lincoln Park, Tremont, 1208 Starkweather Avenue,
Cleveland, on August 14 and 15.  The concerts are at 8:30 PM and admission to both events is free. 

 Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2009, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info

His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)