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<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">GROUNDWORKS features two
premiers; future dance programs</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Palatino">(Member,
Dance Critics Association)</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Since its founding in
1998, Groundworks DanceTheater, David Shimotakahara’s small dance company, has
been dedicated to the theme, “imagination you can see.”<span style> </span>The company “explores the human
experience through unique and adventurous choreography.”<span style> </span>They perform new works, imagine older
works, while performing in a variety of venues which range from an old ice
house in Akron to Trinity Cathedral to the Cleveland Institute of Art to the
Glendale Cemetery.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">The latest adventure for
the company and its collaborators was at the Breen Center for the Performing
Arts.<span style> </span>The same program will be
repeated at 7:30 on March 22<span style> </span>at
the Akron-Summit County Public Library.<span style>
</span>The evening consisted of two world premieres and a revival.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">LUNA, choreographed by
Shimotakahara in collaboration with the dancers, is a physical exploration of
polarities:<span style> </span>lost and found, give
and take.<span style> </span>As with any set of opposites,
the extreme ends of the spectrum overlap and reappear.<span style> </span>The composition was danced to the flat
affect sounds written by Peter Swendsen. The quick gymnastic actions were well
performed, the polar opposites delineated by moves and counter moves, repelling
of touch, while unfolding in parallel sequences. <span style> </span></span><span style="font-family:Palatino">The highlight segment was a compelling
duet by Felise Bagley, probably the best female contemporary dancer in the
area, and Gary Lenington.<span style> </span></span><span style="font-family:Palatino">Like the music, the dancing was interesting, but
not compelling.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">INAMORATA, also in its
world premiere, was the choreographic creation of Kate Weare, who is noted for
her unique dance voice.<span style> </span>She
intends, through her visual images, to “inspire its own world.” As per its
title’s meaning—“</span><span style="font-family:Palatino">a female lover or a woman who is loved”—the
number, which was danced to the recorded sounds of such compositions as <i style>Processional Hymn</i>,<i style> Nannou</i>, <i style>Contrabaejeando</i>,
and <i style>No One Hurts Up Here</i>, puts
females in various loving situations. An exciting addition was a recently rare
dance appearance by Shimotakahara.<span style>
</span>The piece received deserved strong audience applause.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">BRUBECK, a commissioned piece, was developed in
2012. </span><span style="font-family:Palatino">Shimotakahara has given a physical
snapshot of the sounds of the American jazz icon as physical movements by</span><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span><span style="font-family:Palatino">combining seven of Brubeck’s’
lexicon of compositions, including, <i style>Take
Five</i>, <i style>Bluette</i>, <i style>Pick Up Sticks</i> and <i style>Unsquare Dance</i>. </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Each section highlighted
a different side of Brubeck’s’ experimentation with <span style> </span>moods and time signatures.<span style> </span>His style has been epitomized as “motion and commotion” as
“creating infectious melodies and dynamic rhythms,” and this was well reflected
in the dancing.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">The dancers switched
gears as the moods of the music changed from plaintive, to sassy, to happy, to
sensual. <span style> </span>The overall effect
was energizing, educational and often mesmerizing.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">As I commented in my
review of the original production, Kristine Davies’ costume design is
confusing.<span style> </span>The female short
shirt-waist pink dresses and then the varying styles of bathing suits didn’t
parallel the musical moods and did little to create the needed visual image.<span style> </span>The men’s costumes added little to
creating the visual moods.<span style> </span>If the
piece is to be repeated again, consideration should be given to altering the
costume design.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"><span style> </span></span></p>
<p class=""><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino">Capsule judgement: Groundworks continues to be a bright star in the
area’s contemporary dance sky.<span style> </span>The
well disciplined company, which strives to present new and interesting
performances in audience friendly venues, deserves the strong audience support
it is receiving.<span style> </span></span></i></p>
<p class=""><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></i></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Coming up:<span style> </span>April 13 @ 8 PM at the EJ Thomas Hall the company will
perform with the Akron Symphony Orchestra. </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">For information go to
<a href="http://www.groundworksdance.org">http://www.groundworksdance.org</a></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><b style><span style="font-family:Palatino">UPCOMING LOCAL DANCE PROGRAMS</span></b></p>
<p class=""><b style><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></b></p>
<p class=""><b style><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(46,46,46)">VERB BALLETS</span></b></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(46,46,46)">Saturday, February 23, 2013, 8 PM,
Breen Center @ St. Ignatius High<span style>
</span>School</span><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Three works by Chung-Fu Chang, who is in
residency with Verb.<span style> </span>Program
includes THE LILY, created for Verb, Chang dancing PHEASANT’S WRITING, a
self-choreographed solo work, and the world premiere of Richard Dickinson’s
ballet about loss and longing set to Richard Strauss’s haunting <i style>Four Last Songs</i></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">216-397-3757 or <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://www.verballets.org/tickets.html">http://www.verballets.org/tickets.html</a></span></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><b style><span style="font-family:Palatino">MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP</span></b></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Saturday, March 2, 2013, Palace Theatre</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Sponsored by Dance Cleveland</span><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(140,137,125)"></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Affectionately known as “America’s dancer
company,” Mark Morris Dance, which is both brash and profound, is acclaimed for
its ability to make classical music visible through dance.<span style> </span>The last time they appeared locally, I
wrote, “</span><span style="font-family:Palatino">Morris,
who is meticulous in his choreography, takes a piece of music and creates a
movement for each note of the composition.”<span style> </span><span style> </span>Morris Dance
sold out in its last local performance, so get your tickets now!</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><b style><span style="font-family:Palatino">INLET
DANCE</span></b></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">April 11-13, 2013, Cleveland Public Theatre</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Experience the second movement of Bill Wade’s exploration of
the 4 elements, AIR, along with selected pieces from the company’s repertoire.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">216-631-2727 501 or </span><span style="font-family:Palatino"><a href="http://www.cptonline.org/">cptonline.org</a></span></p>
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