[NEohioPAL] Berko review: GROUNDWORKS DANCETHEATER and Previews

[Roy Berko]

GROUNDWORKS says goodbye to Amy Miller in strong Ice House program
 
Roy Berko
 
(Member, Dance Critics Association)
 
--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
 
Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview 
Times            

 
--coocleveland.com—
 
In 1998, Amy Miller was the first dancer asked to join Groundworks, David 
Shimotakahara’s fledgling dance company.   She also served the company as its 
Artistic Associate.  She and Shimotakahara have been the backbone of the company 
since.  Unfortunately, for the company, and the audiences who have come back 
again and again to see the ensemble, Miller is moving to New York City.  She 
will continue to have creative ties with Groundworks, probably in the form of 
choreography, but her physical presence will be missing and missed.
 
Nothing could more exemplify Shimotakahara and Miller’s bond, than the last 30 
seconds of ‘DnA,’ which received its world premiere at the company’s latest 
concert at Akron’s Ice House.  The duo piece, co-choreographed by Amy and David 
to music by Mark Hollis and Marc Mellits, was a tribute to the strength and 
depth of relationships.  Obviously a reference to the choreographers’ strong 
bond, it highlighted how “connections are tested over time and recognizes the 
miracle of finding friendship.”  The piece ended with the duo facing each other, 
looking intently into each other’s faces, sharing years of joint ventures and 
what appears to be a lasting emotional relationship.  It was a tribute to the 
connection that comes from two very talented individuals who melded into a 
powerful artistic force to give joy to both each other and audiences.  Bravo!
 
Groundworks is noted for placing dance in unexpected places.  Their venues are 
churches, parks, museums and the Akron Ice House.  For eleven years the company 
has used the former site where blocks of ice were stored, starting in 1870, for 
use by the residents of the Tire City.   This is not an ideal place to present 
dance.  The lack of a raised dance floor, poor sight lines and lack of raked 
seating, cause problems.  The venue became even more cramped when an overflow of 
people appeared for the Friday night performance.  Fifty chairs had to be 
crammed in between the already seated audience and the stage, causing sight 
blockage.  In spite of this, the appreciative assemblage got what it came 
for...a fine evening of dance.
 
The opening number, the world premiere of choreographer Jill Sigman’s ‘SPLIT 
STITCH,’ was set to original music by Gustavo Aguilar.  Dressed in white 
fragments of material created by costumer Kristin Davies, the dancers, 
displaying fine body control, effectively interpreted Sigman’s desire to display 
the “splits and tensions within ourselves, our culture and our country.”
Each of the four-part movements, found the dancers displaying a different set of 
emotions.  Coordinated and segmented moves, interaction, lack of interaction, 
lyrical and static bodily actions, all highlighted by Dennis Dugan’s lighting 
which cast shadows and moved in coordination and discordance with the dancers, 
created a series of illusions.  The last segment, which found Felice Bagley, 
standing mid-stage, repeating the same movement over and over as she mumbled 
incoherent phrases, climaxed a thought provoking piece.  

 
The final piece, ‘JUST YESTERDAY,’ in its Akron premiere, was a recreation of a 
Dianne McIntyre choreographed number, that the company has performed before.  It 
is a series of vignettes, based on stories being told by the dancers, which are 
recreated in movement.  Nostalgia, joy, sadness, personal traditions as they 
related to food, hijinks, fads, movies, family, and people who touched the 
dancers’ lives, flowed forth.  Though sometimes hard to hear because of the poor 
acoustics, the over all effect was strong.  The piece is highlighted by the live 
guitar presence of Phillip Smith and Dan Wilson who are choreographed into the 
movement.  All in all, this is a fascinating selection, which got a wonderful 
performance
 
Capsule judgement:  With the loss of Amy Miller, Groundworks moves to a new 
challenge, of continuing its high level of dance performances without its 
Associate Artistic Director.  The company said goodbye to Miller with a fine 
evening of dance at The Akron Ice House.  

 
Performances of GROUNDWORKS DANCETHEATER AT AKRON’S ICE HOUSE continue on 
Saturday, September 4 at 8 and Sunday, September 5 at 2.  For tickets go to 
www.groundworksdance.org or call 216-691-3180.  The Akron Ice House is located 
at 129 N Summit St, Akron, OH 44304 Telephone: 330-379-1105.
 
Groundworks’ next performance will be on September 23, 25, 26 with Opera 
Cleveland as they present ‘THE PEARL FISHERS,’ in the State Theatre of 
PlayhouseSquare.  For tickets call 216-664-6065 or visit 
www.operacleveland.org.  The company’s next solo concert will be November 12-13 
at 8pm in Trinity Cathedral.
 
OTHER DANCE PERFORMANCES
 
Dance Cleveland
•Keigwin + Company, E. J. Thomas Hall, Sat, Oct 2, 8 pm.  Tickets:  
330-972-7570.
 
•Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ohio Theatre of PlayhouseSquare, Sat, Nov 6, 8 
pm, For tickets:  216-241-6000 

 
Verb Ballets
IngenuityFest , Sept 24 – 26.  Sneak Preview of the Cleveland Flats Symphony, in 
collaboration with Pearlwinds  Energy.  Free admission.
 
Breen Center for the Performing Arts, St. Ignatius High School  
Oct 1 & 2 . Tickets:  216.961.2560, or ignatius.edu/breencenter
 
PLAYHOUSESQUARE
Dance Showcase, Palace Theatre, Sept 10, 7 pm, Free, no tickets required.
The Dancing Wheels Company, Dance/Theater Collective, Inlet Dance Theatre, 
MorrisonDance, Ohio Dance Theatre, Shri Kalaa Mandir, Travesty Dance Group, Verb 
Ballets Sara Whale and a sneak peek dance performance from Billy Elliot the 
Musical. 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2010, 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.)