Cowboys, paper dolls and improv artists graced the stage of the ’92 Theater this past weekend under the direction and choreography of six senior dance majors. The dances were all part of “About Face,” this semester’s installment of the annual Senior Thesis Dance Concert.
The first group of performers caught the audience in state of surprise and confusion, as they began doing improvised movements. Choreographed by Laurel Steinhauser ’05, these performers, mostly with little prior dance experience, provided vignettes of improv throughout the show in between other acts and even during intermission, when they brought their improv into the Zelnick Pavillion. Dressed in pink and purple, these dancers kept the audience on their toes, always entering and exiting through different doors and often providing a comedic flair.
The costumes and props used in E.J. Winter’s ’05 “Inside the Doll House” complemented the movements of the dancers, providing a creatively choreographed piece. With their doll-like face make up and costumes made of newspaper, the dancers literally became paper dolls. When the piece began, the dancers shared the stage with piles of dishes. The dancers then threw the plates around, like Frisbees, in various patterns. The rustles of the newspaper and clinks of the dishes worked along with the part-jazz and part-techno stylings of the music, provided an aurally and visually entertaining piece.
In a more literal dance setting, Dennis Fung’s ’05 “In the Middle of” explored Latin inspired and influenced dance in the situation of a dancehall or a social. The piece highlighted different couples or duets at various times with in the backdrop provided by the entire group.
In another theme dance, Ben Popper ’05 interpreted the classic Western in the choreography of his piece, “Leathers.” The dance followed the cowboy narrative, including everything from romance to sheriffs, from cap-guns to bows and arrows. The performance even included the dancers riding bicycles, amazingly slowly and gracefully, circling the stage in a sort of staredown. The piece ended with the female protagonist of the romance being shot and falling on to a tent which had been brought on stage. As the gun shot sounded and the dancer fell, water squirted from the tent, adding an element of special effects to the performance.
In “JezebelSapphireMulatta-Mammy” Jenn Melillo ’05 combined movements from different sources and traditions to explore the various ways dance has been and is still used within African American history and culture. Following a more or less chronological order, the dancers, dressed in classy black and red costumes, blended and transitioned different styles from traditional to more modern.
Maia Aitken’s ’05 “Impulsive (self),” the earth-tone clad performers danced in slow, graceful movements to round out the show.
Exploring different styles and traditions of dance, the six senior choreographers collaborated for a well-rounded performance that reached many different presentations and representations of dance.
Leave a Reply