We see two dancers poised to begin in a pose unlike the usual duet opening. Their necks are wrapped around each others, their torsos each reach back in a 45 degree angle, and their feet plant firmly on the ground. They are not just at rest, but rather in total repose together. Rufus Wainwright’s rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah infuses a spiritual feel to the scene. The two dancers then animate. Slowly each brings an arm up behind them as if it is a wing in their shared dream. They swirl atop one another’s body, balance high, do moves that you might call synched scoop. Their center of gravity seems to always be shared, even during the brief moments when their bodies lose tactile connections. They are two and one at the same time—fused into an intimacy without oneness borders. The choreography is fluid flow taking a visceral form.You too might find this X-Ray of intimacy breathtaking. It doesn’t hurt that the two performers — Dominique Dobransky and Brandon Jones— are flawless.
This is Keystone, a dance introducing the well-named Intimacy of Relationship Act II of the 40 Year Anniversary of Carolyn Dorfman Dance. Indeed! THIS is what a duet truly is, Carolyn Dorfman’s choreography seems to assert.
Watch this excerpt of an earlier Keystone performance here--
Carolyn Dorfman Dance’s Greatest Hits Are Humanity-Infused
By the time Keystone begins we are already firmly hooked on Dorfman’s choreography, with its signature of making dance expressions of the human experience relatable. A newcomer to the troupe, like this reviewer, absorbs a primer on what makes Carolyn Dorfman Dance tick.
In ACT I, we learn of Community. It starts with Lifeline, in which dancers seem to pull the creative oeuvre forward. ONWARD is the spirit—let’s more forward.
In this act’s finale, a griot (story teller) narrates the tale of an exotic seed whose yam fruit is impossible to wrest from the ground. All on the farm— from farmer’s wife to farmer to mouse to pig to cow and more— come together to pull at the yam’s roots, with each character having a unique movement refrain that combines to show the collective at work towards their common task. It’s a playful nursery rhyme told via dance for children of all ages. In this writer’s view, the cow udders alone would make this homage to the love of team creation worth your time.
In contrast, The Legacy Project Act III explores the relatively heavy content of the Holocaust floating on a Klezmer score. In storytelling style The Table conveys the excitement of a Shabbat dinner— from prep to the spirited exchanges that seem more important than any food we imagine at the table. It is a scene of what is snatched, we especially realize when we see the startling costumes worn in Cat’s Cradle — the uniforms of Auschwitz prisoners.
Watch an earlier year’s performance of The Table here—
The finale act— Celebrating It All— brings the troupe to circa now, and especially with the inclusion of choreographer Juel D. Lane’s Now, where it feels like every member of the troupe has a cadenza to show how the DJ’s mic’d voice moves them, as if each is in friendly sport to give a dazzling signature.
We Have Joined the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Family
Throughout the evening we get to meet notables from the company— board members and award-winning administrative staff. Many of the board members and a staff member who now oversees a popup branch in Chattanooga Tennessee are former dancers, who proudly report on their prior roles as pig, rat, cow etc in the aforementioned Yam Story. Spoiler Alert— the Chattanooga Popup Administrator even pops up in the audience to do a surprise dance from his seat. That Carolyn Dorfman has only a fleeting cameo bow with the troupe at the end speaks volumes, in this reviewer’s opinion. We have feasted at her family’s table. We have seen how unshakable the roots of community are that she has planted.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Photos: Whitney Browne, unless otherwise indicated.
Find more Picture This Post dance reviews in the latest roundup — CHOREOGRAPHERS WE LOVE. Also, watch a short preview video here —
Program Notes--
Carolyn Dorfman, Artistic Director
Anita Thomas, Executive Director Jacqueline Dumas Albert, Associate Artistic Director Katlyn Baskin, Rehearsal Director
Burke Wilmore, Lighting Designer
Maddie Kunert, Stage Manager
Tiffany Tabatchnick, Assistant Stage Manager
The Company
Kayleigh Bowen, Tyler Choquette, Dominique Dobransky, Hannah Gross, Maiko Harada, Brandon Jones, Jacob Kurihara (Performing Apprentice), Aanyse Pettiford Chandler, Charles Scheland,
Jen Silver (Performing Apprentice), Jared Stern, Andrea Ward
ACT I: Community
Lifeline (1987) (Excerpt)
Choreography by Carolyn Dorfman
Original Score by Robert Kaplan
Set Design by Carolyn Dorfman
Set Construction and Original Lighting Design by John Evans
Lighting Redesign by Thom Weaver; adapted by Burke Wilmore
Original Costume Design by Russell Aubrey; recreated and adapted by Anna-Alisa Belous Performed by Dominique Dobransky with Jacob Kurihara and Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler
Creation Cast: Jodi Falk (soloist), Lauren Helfand, Denise Kay, Virginia Kennedy, Steven J. Myers, Donna Rolleri, and Susan Kohout Rosenberg
Echad (One) (2002) - New Moon
Echad, the Hebrew word for “One”, refers to the power of one community; the uniqueness or oneness of each individual and the delicate balance between the two, that is the essence of our humanity.
Choreography by Carolyn Dorfman
Commissioned Score by Greg Wall
Set Concept by Carolyn Dorfman
Set Construction by Acadia Scenic
Original Lighting Design by Charles S. Reece; adapted by Burke Wilmore Costume Design by Russell Aubrey
Performed by Tyler Choquette, Dominique Dobransky, Hannah Gross, Maiko Harada, Brandon Jones, Charles Scheland, Jared Stern, and Andréa Ward
Creation Cast: Emily Gayeski, Deirdre Smith Gilmer, Nancy Hubner (fka Shevitz), Christophe Jeannot, Noel MacDuffie, Wendee Rogerson, Pam Wagner, and Jon Zimmerman
Dance/Stories (1996) - The Yam Story
Conceived, Choreographed, and Directed by Carolyn Dorfman
Stories Written, Adapted, and Performed by Charlotte Blake Alston
Commissioned Score by Horacee Arnold
Original Sculptures by Christine Martens
Original Lighting Design by Susan Summers
Lighting Redesign by Scott Nelson; adapted by Burke Wilmore
Costume Design by Russell Aubrey
Soft Costume Sculpture by Karen Small
Costume Construction by Russell Aubrey and Cathy Hazeltine
Performed by Storyteller/Griot Charlotte Blake Alston and Kayleigh Bowen, Dominique Dobransky, Hannah Gross, Brandon Jones, Jared Stern, Charles Scheland, Maiko Harada, and Andréa Ward
Creation Cast: Robin Aubrey (fka Shevitz), Russell Aubrey, Brian Brooks, Lisa Charnholm (fka Bonomini), Jann R. Freeman, Dina Macaione Latoff, Laurie Pasqual (fka Hershberger), and Adrianna Thompson
ACT II: Intimacy of Relationship
Keystone (2012) (Excerpt)
Choreography by Carolyn Dorfman
Music by Rufus Wainwright*
Original Lighting Design by Simon Cleveland; adapted by Burke Wilmore Costume Design by Anna-Alisa Belous
Performed by Dominique Dobransky and Brandon Jones
Creation Cast: Jacqueline Dumas Albert and Louie Marin
Living Room Music (1994) (Excerpt)
Choreography by Carolyn Dorfman
Commissioned Score by Neal Woodson
Original Lighting Design by Donald Firestone; adapted by Burke Wilmore
Costumes Design by Russell Aubrey
Performed by Tyler Choquette, Hannah Gross, Maiko Harada, Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler, and Charles Scheland
Creation Cast: Robin Aubrey (fka Shevitz), Russell Aubrey, Andrew Tadeuz Carter, Dina Macaione Latoff, and Wen-Lin Tsuai Murray
WAVES (2015) (Excerpt)
Choreography by Carolyn Dorfman
Commissioned Score and Recording by Pete List (Beatboxing, Shahi Baaja, Vocals), Jessie Reagen Mann (Cello, Vocals), and Daphna Mor (Recorders, Vocals)
Original Lighting Design by Marika Kent; adapted by Burke Wilmore
Costume Design by Anna-Alisa Belous
Performed by Maiko Harada and Brandon Jones
Creation Cast: Ashleigh Hunter Avery, Katlyn Baskin (fka Waldo), Caroline Dietz (duet), Justin Dominic, Adam Gauzza, Brandon Jones (duet), Ae-Soon Kim, Louie Marin, Jenny Gillan Powell, and Rian Maxwell
Interior Designs (2013) (Excerpt)
Choreography by Carolyn Dorfman
Commissioned Score by Svjetlana Bukvich
Original Vocals performed by Kamala Sankaram, Samille Ganges
Original Lighting Design by Kate Ashton; adapted by Burke Wilmore
Video/Projection Design by Katherine Freer and David Tennent; adapted by L.A. Mars Costume Design by Anna-Alisa Belous
Performed by Kayleigh Bowen, Dominique Dobransky, Hannah Gross, Charles Scheland, and Jared Stern
Creation Cast: Jacqueline Dumas Albert, Ashleigh Hunter Avery, Katlyn Baskin (fka Waldo), Mica Bernas, Alex Biegelson, Caroline Dietz, Tyner Dumortier, Brandon Jones, Ae-Soon Kim, Louie Marin, and Guest Artist - Bennyroyce Royon
Broken Dreams (1990)/Love Suite Love (1992) - She’s Got You
Choreography by Carolyn Dorfman
Music by Patsy Cline
Original Lighting Design by John Evans
Lighting Redesign by Thom Weaver; adapted by Burke Wilmore Costume Design by Russell Aubrey
Performed by Dominique Dobransky
Creation cast Broken Dreams: Carolyn Dorfman (solo), Tim Allen
Creation cast Love Suite Love: Robin Aubrey (fka Shevitz), Russell Aubrey, Andrew Tadeuz Carter, Lisa Charnholm (fka Bonomini), Dina Macaione Latoff, and Laurie Pasqual (fka Hershberger)
ACT III: Legacy Project
Mayne Mentshn (My People), Act 1: The Klezmer Sketch (2000) (Excerpt)
MAYNE MENTSHN (My People) is a full evening work that is comprised of two parts: The Klezmer Sketch and The American Dream. In The Klezmer Sketch, Dorfman mines the exuberant, joyful, yet soulful quality of Klezmer music that inspired her to explore Jewish gesture, expression, ritual, character, and values. She celebrates the uniqueness of the Jewish journey, and yet, the extraordinary universal connections that it engenders.
Choreography by Carolyn Dorfman
Commissioned Score by Greg Wall
Original Lighting Design by John Evans; adapted by Burke Wilmore Costume Design by Russell Aubrey
My Father’s Solo Performed by Tyler Choquette
The Table
Performed by Dominique Dobransky, Hannah Gross, Maiko Harada, Brandon Jones, Jacob Kurihara, Charles Scheland, Jen Silver, and Andréa Ward
The Freylakh
Performed by Dominique Dobransky, Hannah Gross, Maiko Harada, Brandon Jones, Jacob Kurihara, Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler, Charles Scheland, Jen Silver, Jared Stern, and Andréa Ward
Creation Cast: Craig Biesecker, Emily Gayeski, Nancy Hubner (fka Shevitz), Renée Jaworski, Noel MacDuffie, Dante Puleio, Wendee Rogerson (Solo), and Katie Stevinson-Nollet
Cat’s Cradle (2007) (Excerpt)
During the Nazi Regime of World War II, Theresienstadt was a ghetto in Czechoslovakia. Constructed by the Germans as a “model city” for the world to see; music, theater, and opera became both a voluntary and involuntary part of its fabric. A city originally meant to house 5,000 people, it became a holding ground for well over 100,000 Jews and others who were ultimately destined for the gas chambers of Auschwitz. What is even more astonishing than the pain they endured is the life and light they embodied and the ability of the human spirit to soar amidst the darkness. It is a story of survival, will, and connection. My mother and her two sisters survived the war because they could knit. They shared their stories as they wove their yarn and thus knit our family together...Past, Present and Future. -Carolyn Dorfman
Choreography by Carolyn Dorfman
Inspired by the musical theater production, ‘Voices From Theresienstadt’,
by Ellen Foyn Bruun and Bente Kahan
*Text written & Music by Ilse Weber while a prisoner in Theresienstadt, unless otherwise noted All vocals by Bente Kahan
Original Lighting Design by Sean Perry; adapted by Burke Wilmore
Costume Design by Katherine Winter
Ich Wandre Durch Theresienstadt (I Wander Through Theresienstadt) Performed by Kayleigh Bowen, Dominique Dobransky, and Maiko Harada
Die Kartoffelschälerin (The Potato Peeler)
Performed by Kayleigh Bowen, Dominique Dobransky, Hannah Gross, Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler, and Maiko Harada
Ein Koffer Spricht (A Suitcase Speaks)
*Music by Bente Kahan
Performed by Andréa Ward with Tyler Choquette, Hannah Gross, Brandon Jones, Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler, Charles Scheland, and Jared Stern
Ich Bitte, Nicht Lachen (I Beg You, Don’t Laugh)
*Text by Leo Strauss; Music by Imre Kalman: “Kommt mit nach Varasdin” from the Operetta “Gräfin Mariza”
Performed by Maiko Harada with Kayleigh Bowen, Tyler Choquette,
Dominique Dobransky, Hannah Gross, Brandon Jones, Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler, Charles Scheland, and Jared Stern
Creation Cast: Jacqueline Dumas Albert, Kyla Barkin, Kate Hirstein, Joan Chiang Paulin, Wendee Rogerson, Aaron Selissen, David Shen, Sarah Wagner Surber, Mark Taylor, and Jon Zimmerman
ACT IV: Celebrating It All!
NOW
Choreography by Juel D. Lane
Choreography assisted by Gabrielle Loren
Commissioned Score and Recorded Music by Leo RA Soul Lighting Design by Thom Weaver; adapted by Burke Wilmore Costumes by Anna-Alisa Belous
Video by Nel Shelby Productions
Performed by Kayleigh Bowen, Tyler Choquette, Dominique Dobransky, Hannah Gross, Maiko Harada, Brandon Jones, Jacob Kurihara, Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler, Charles Scheland, Jared Stern, and Andréa Ward
Creation Cast: Katlyn Baskin, Jarred Bosch, Gianna Diaz, Dominique Dobransky, Khalid Dunton, Maiko Harada, Brandon Jones, Kaila Moses, Marsha Guirlande Pierre, Charles Scheland, and Martina Viadana
The Attitude of Doing...
Choreography by Carolyn Dorfman
Commissioned Score and Recorded Music by Regina Carter* Organ and Piano Music Recorded by Brandon McCune Lighting Design by Burke Wilmore
Costumes by Anna-Alisa Belous
Performed by Kayleigh Bowen, Tyler Choquette, Dominique Dobransky, Hannah Gross, Maiko Harada, Brandon Jones, Jacob Kurihara, Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler, Charles Scheland, Jen Silver, Jared Stern, and Andréa Ward
Creation Cast: Katlyn Baskin, Jarred Bosch, Gianna Diaz, Dominique Dobransky,
Khalid Dunton, Hannah Gross, Maiko Harada, Brandon Jones, Kaila Moses, Charles Scheland, Carmella Taitt and Andréa Ward
About the Author: Amy Munice
Amy Munice is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of Picture This Post. She covers books, dance, film, theater, music, museums and travel. Prior to founding Picture This Post, Amy was a freelance writer and global PR specialist for decades—writing and ghostwriting thousands of articles and promotional communications on a wide range of technical and not-so-technical topics.
