Department Of Dance
Professional Series II
“Why Dance? 3D”
The Thursday Morning “Nobody-Asked-Me-To, But-Here-I-Go-Anyway” Review: “Professional Series II – Why Dance? 3D”
(or, “Why Only A Select Few Consider Me A Professional Reviewer…”)
“Shadows and lights, on a Saturday night,
If you're feeling a little bit crazy,
In the shadows and lights, it's a double delight,
Oh what can you do to amaze me?”
If you're feeling a little bit crazy,
In the shadows and lights, it's a double delight,
Oh what can you do to amaze me?”
- from “Shadows & Lights”, by Chris de Burgh
First off, this review is for a production that Mrs. That Dan Guy and I happened to attend WEDNESDAY night, not Saturday – but I’m not about to tinker with well-written lyrics. I couldn’t get that song out of my head after seeing this show, so you’ll just have to work around a little bit of confusion – and before I forget, this show is on again tonight, so if you’re in the Calgary area, make sure you try and fit in into your day-timer.
Not that that particular song was actually used in the show, it just sprang to mind after the creative use of lighting and shadows by the various dancers. No, the music was more of a percussive paradise of relentless rhythms – blends of world, club, and even a brief snippet of the classic rock variety. If you were a toe-tapper, you were powerless resisting the well-chosen beats.
I am getting ahead of myself. I should note before I get too far along that I’m really not that big a fan of dance in general. Don’t watch “So You Think You Dan Dance”. No interest in “Dancing With The Stars”. Whenever dance acts appear on competition shows like “America
So, it’s always a pleasant surprise to be taken by surprise, and get completely wound up in the creative efforts of a talented troupe like this, during last night’s show. Passion, energy, and grace from a wide range of dancers, on a 2-level stage that lent itself to multiple showcases (and the afore-mentioned use of shadows and lights…).
It’s amazing what you can do with no special effects, or Cirque-sized settings. With just the speed of motion, arms appeared as blurred and unfocused as my travel photographs. You couldn’t help but be informed that dance isn’t restricted to 50-pound waifs, as every dancer exhibited endurance beyond my comprehension.
Speaking of waifs, during “The Percussive Song With The Whistle”, five dancers formed a line and pose similar to something you might see in ballet (yes, I have been to ballet – I’m not a COMPLETE cultural hillbilly…). Neat effect coupled with the modern, expressive, visceral dance.
Also a neat effect – the multi-media aspect, featuring screens alternately incorporating the dancers themselves, or simply an article of clothing. Worked well within the performance, I thought.
After bringing the entire show back to where it started, the dancers invited audience members (many of them family and friends, I suspect) to join them. Mrs. That Dan Guy and I had to depart, but it was an exuberant, inclusive end to a captivating performance.
Two toe-tapping digits up!
Tomorrow, check back for my review of Stage West Calgary’s “All Shook Up”, a link to Saturday’s official Calgary Herald review, and my audio interview with the star of that just-opened show!
Charlie will be bumped to Sunday morning…
Chow for now
2 comments:
Yes indeed! The show was unbelievably beautiful, creative and energizing. It completely held you in a mesmerizing grip, I absolutely loved it! A special shout-out to Amanda Bonnell who was spectacular!
I couldn't agree more.
Well, obviously.
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