REVIEW: UAA NEW DANCES

Posted by arts_reviews

Posted: April 11, 2008 - 11:46 pm

By ANNE HERMAN

Choreographer and UAA faculty member Brian Jeffery’s artistic sensibilities abounded in the UAA Dance Ensemble’s presentation of “New Dances 2008.” This spring concert, which started its two-weekend run on Friday, gives student choreographers and dancers the opportunity to test their artistic wings. They didn’t stray too far from the loose, fluid movements that have marked this prolific artist’s works over the years.

There were a few notable exceptions to this one-note affair Friday night in the Mainstage Theater, and they made the difference between a gentle dance night and one that was provocative, sizzling and sophisticated.

The Dance Ensemble brought in a few big guns: guest artists and UAA faculty who have been producing fine dances for years. Putting them side by side with younger, and sometimes lesser, talents was a risk, and one that the Dance Ensemble has often taken in recent years.

The Ensemble, though, rose to the challenge. Student works such as Aurora Pease’s “Heartstrings,” and Ruby Kennell’s “Terrible Angels” were strong counterparts to guest artists Augusto Soledade’s “Divertimento” and Katherine Kramer’s “Between The Lines.” This diversity of choreographic ideas and styles gave the concert a boost of energy that rose above other more mundane works on the program.

“Heartstrings” and “Terrible Angels” were, in fact, stark contrasts with much of the rest of the program. Both were disturbing works that probed the darker sides of human interactions and personas. Kramer’s “Between The Lines,” on the other hand, was elegant and precise in its movements and filled with the simple joy of moving. The same could be said of Soledade’s “Divertimento,” a sunny piece with sensual Brazilian undertones in its music and actions.

In between, Jeffery’s delightful “Several Things About Spring,” UAA faculty Katya Kuznetsova’s hilarious “Ruffle Shuffle” and student works like Alana Whelan’s “Versions” and Stephanie Hector’s “Together…in time” explored the lighter side of dance from this group.

The UAA Dance Ensemble's "New Dances 2008" continues on Saturday and Sunday this weekend and Friday, Saturday and Sunday next weekend. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 6pm. Tickets are $10 and $8 for UAA students and can be purchased at the UAA Box Office at 786-4TIX.

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