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Volume CXXXII, Number 22 |
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Dancers spring into Pickard
MAIA-CHRISTINA LEE
ORIENT STAFF
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| In an independent study designed and choreographed by Abbie Klein '03, students evoked the sights and sounds of Vietnam where Klein spent a semester studying abroad. (Nancy Van Dyke, Bowdoin Orient) |
The first act is performed by a guy and his ball. It's called "El Diabolo" and is worthy of a cameo in the Cirque de Soleil. This year's Spring Dance Performance is an amalgam of stunning acts involving choreography of every sort. From Scottish dancing to the Unity Steppers, the show never gets old, keeping both the dancers and audience members on their toes until the curtain closes. Michael Flatly, with his tight dance moves and even tighter pants, would be proud of Bowdoin's lords of the dance.
Paul Sarvis and Gwyneth Jones of the dance department choreographed three of the acts; the remaining nine were choreographed by students. There are two solo performances, several small ensembles, and threelarge group presentations. "A Series of Needlessly Dramatic Events" is an especially memorable dance. Senior Andy Keshner's face puts on its own performance as he feigns shock at the apparent sacrifice of a virgin-this is all mimed by the dancers who are as much actors as they are flexible athletes. "A Series of Needlessly Dramatic Events" takes place to theme music from Star Wars. Or was it Indiana Jones? Without giving too much away, it's enough to say that these dramatic events are perfectly titled and really, really funny.
The show continues with "Remembering Viet Nam," an independent study by Abbie Klein '03. Inspired by her experience studying abroad, the dance combines photography, movement, and sound to evoke the atmosphere of Vietnam and the spirit of its people.
Choreographed and performed by senior Ashley Berendt, "Digression" is a dance which would do well at any rave. Berendt's lively movements merge perfectly with exotic techno beats pulsating alongside the elegant wail of a sitar-or some other string instrument which sounds a lot like a sitar.
The only dance that doesn't have a choreographer listed in the program is "You Name It." Peter Khoury '04, Brian McGregor '04, Braulio Peguero '05, Maddie Robillard '05, and LaTricia Sealy '05 could have fooled me. Their flexible maneuvers looked more than rehearsed. They looked perfectly planned and even more perfectly executed. With a soundtrack that consisted of everything from car horns to spring peepers to grunting animals, "You Name It" was full of surprises.
The Spring Dance Performance is happening in Pickard Theater on Friday, April 25 at 8:00 p.m. and it should not be missed, even for Ivies.
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