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DCDC goes 100 percent live at 40
The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company proved on Saturday, Feb. 7, that you don’t need the New York Philharmonic or the Dayton Philharmonic to put on a solid performance with live music.
You don’t need to spend money that most dance companies don’t have, especially during times like these.
DCDC shared the stage with three exemplary and very different local student music groups in presenting a memorable and sold-out 40th anniversary concert of three choreographic premieres at the Victoria Theatre.
If the show didn’t start the midwinter thaw finally taking place outside, it definitely helped the warmup along. And not always in predictable fashion.
There are less less expected combinations than DCDC’s powerful movers and the song “A Few of My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music,” but probably not many.
Yet there it was in the happy and spirited opening work, “Painted Pictures,” choreographed by artistic director Debbie Blunden-Diggs to a medley of well known popular and theater songs.
The others were the irresistible “Seasons of Love,” from “Rent,” “California Dreamin’” (which included a dance solo for Los Angeles native Nabachwa Ssensalo), “Sunny” and “Circle of Life” from “Lion King.”
The piece was the night’s smoothest pairing of dancers and accompaniment — in this case Centerville High School’s versatile jazz pop chorus Forte, under Kathy Clark’s direction at the piano.
The second work, by company dancer Crystal Michelle, explored love’s challenges and rewards to music by Bach and Mozart, played live by Oakwood High School’s Blackbird Quartet beginning with violin soloist Clara Hofeldt.
Dressed in red dresses designed by Maurita Elam, Amy Renee Jones, Marlayna Locklear, Rebecca Sparks Vargas, Sheri “Sparkle” Williams and Ssensalo ran back and forth a lot and moved their five benches almost as often.
The piece was at its best in the third section when Jones and Locklear briefly came together to kneel and embrace and when the other four literally bound Williams hand and foot with their own hands, perhaps to protect her from making a mistake The motivations weren’t clear.
DCDC and the University of Dayton’s bold and brassy Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Willie Morris III, shared the stage after intermission for “Milonga!” by dancer William B. McClennan III.
The jazz-blues score, composed by UD’s Damon Sink and spreading a wealth of opportunity among the 19 musicians, proved both danceworthy and compelling on its own.
McClennan fused tango movements with those of contemporary dance to great success, especially with a male ensemble of James Dixon, G. D. Harris, Hershel Deondre Horner III, Ruka Hatua-Saar and Trent D. Williams Jr. who were consistently appealing.
Dressed in black except for bright sashes around their undulating waists, they combined for some dazzling and playful chains of movement while glancing boldly from beneath soft, wide-brimmed hats. Dixon, who wore his hat smashed down low on his head, stood out for his dancing all night long.
There was also much energetic partnering. Among the women, first-year company member Locklear displayed a fire for the music.
DCDC has fewer dancers than in years past and less experience for the most part, although it would be hard to top Williams’ 35 years with the troupe, or Harris’ 18. The company is obviously watching its pennies, but not pinching them. This was an inventive and accessible performance worthy of the title “Celebrations.”
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Comments
By GloriaRhodes
January 10, 2010 1:24 AM | Link to this
I have been trying to find my best friend James Dixon for a while now and To read this and just know that I always knew his talent and that one day people would respect and yearn for his craft. To see this article brings tears to my eyes. I love you James! And I always knew you would be the dancer I saw so many years ago. I’ll be in Ohio to watch your performane in February ALREADY BOUGHT MY TICKET at DCDC online! Love Gloria
By GloriaRhodes
January 10, 2010 1:24 AM | Link to this
I have been trying to find my best friend James Dixon for a while now and To read this and just know that I always knew his talent and that one day people would respect and yearn for his craft. To see this article brings tears to my eyes. I love you James! And I always knew you would be the dancer I saw so many years ago. I’ll be in Ohio to watch your performane in February ALREADY BOUGHT MY TICKET at DCDC online! Love Gloria