Joyce Theater Presents COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET Review – From Bach To Bowie

The curtain rises on the first act to a stage full of dancers leaping and twirling like flowers in a magical garden. A peppy, jovial orchestra bellows out through crisp speakers. The expert lighting casts shadows under a warm glow, and the dancers, in sparse nude costumes, resemble flawless Greek sculptures. As they move their bodies their musculature gleams, showing us the impressive level of strength and precision each dancer executes, while, on the surface, remaining incredibly graceful and agile.

The statuesque quality of the dancers evokes imagery of Ancient Greece. It is easy to imagine the nearly nude dancers leaping around crumbling stones and twisting vines. The rich music is pure baroque decadence— luxurious and romantic. The diverse group of dancers with varying heights, body types and skin tones, is appropriately contemporary and, in this writer’s view, a refreshing divergence from homogenous dance groups of the modern era.

The choreography ties this all together by incorporating traditional pointe ballet with unusual influences, evident in the low, sweeping West African dance moves and sensual salsa moments. The first act reflects a globalism that transcends music and dance.

The second act is pure Bowie. We have moved on to the world of strobe lights, asymmetrical, boldly colored leotards, and shimmering face paint. Even a pair of gold platform heels make an appearance. Dancers leap and pose and lip sync under nearly neon lights, transforming the Joyce into an underground new age disco club. We feel heartbreaking passion as dancers arch their backs in sliding splits. Then comes Friday night sassiness as dancers strut on pointed toes. In this writer’s view, the choreography perfectly captures the essence of Bowie’s music.

Joyce Theater COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Shanna Irwin, Jared Brunson

The dancers’ passion is palpable throughout the performance, and we see that Bowie’s music touched and impacted so many, both on the stage and in the audience. It was a beautifully executed homage to one of music’s greatest icons, and very authentic to his legacy. As if at a Bowie concert, one is left wanting to beg for an encore.

Effortlessly melting styles of music and dance together, Rhoden seems, at least to this writer, to dismantle any ideas one may have about classic, modern and contemporary dance. Even the theater, which feels both expansive and intimate at once, draws from multiple styles with its heavy, red velvet curtains and geometric balcony seating. It’s unconventional but it all feels right in the context of contemporary art.

Alternating Programs For an Entire Month at The Joyce Theater

Three distinct programs are offered during this month long run. Program A features the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in the first act and David Bowie in the second. On the surface, the two artists are extremely different, separated by centuries and various eras of music between them. 
However, after experiencing the performance,  Rhoden’s thought process in this deliberate paring seems evident to this writer. Both musical artists are dynamic, powerful and moving. Both Bach’s and Bowie’s compositions are layered with nuances and subtleties that the dancers effortlessly pick up, translating the music to the language of movement stunningly.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Joyce Theater COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Tim Stickney
Joyce Theater COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Terk Waters
Joyce Theater COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Terk Waters
Joyce Theater COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Jennie Begley, Andrew Brader
Joyce Theater COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Andrew Brader and Company

CHOREOGRAPHY BY Dwight Rhodes

 DANCERS 
Jared Allan Brunson
v, Jillian Davis
, Thomas Dilley
, Craig Dionne,Larissa Gerszke 
,Brandon Gray
, Mayfield Haynes, 
Shanna Irwin, 
Tatiana Melendez,  
Khayr Fajri Muhammad 
Daniela O’Neil
, Simon Plant ,
Miguel Solano, 
Tim Stickney ,Eriko Sugimura, 
Candy Tong

LIGHTING DESIGN BY Michael Korsch 
COSTUME DESIGN BY Christine Darch

MUSIC BY Johann Sebastian and Carl Phillips Emanuel Bach, David Bowie

When:

Program A — through February 24
Friday and Saturday shows at 8pm, otherwise 7:30 curtain time

Program B — February 26 - March 2
Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8PM

Program C — February 23 - March 3
All matinee performances at 2PM

Where:

Joyce Theater
175 8th Avenue
New York

Tickets:

$10+

For tickets and performance dates, visit the Joyce Theater online

Photos courtesy of COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET

 

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