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Dance review: 8 Troupes celebrate agility and passion

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  • Dance review: 8 Troupes celebrate agility and passion

    Los Angeles Times
    April 5, 2004 Monday
    Home Edition

    DANCE REVIEW;
    8 Troupes celebrate agility and passion

    by Victoria Looseleaf, Special to The Times

    If dancers are the new athletes, there was much to laud in the
    strongly performed "Celebration of Dance" on Saturday night at the
    Alex Theatre in Glendale. The second annual offering, produced by
    Ballet of the Foothills' Jill Sanzo, showcased eight companies in a
    diverse program of mostly new -- and engaging -- works.

    Females dominated, with Djanbazian Dance Company premiering its
    powerful "Can Shadows Dance?" Choreographed by Anna Djanbazian, the
    opus paid homage to Armenian women brutalized in 1915.

    Set to a haunting score by Komitas, seven women in bleach-colored
    caftans created tableaux in which chest-pounding angst gave way to
    astonishing backbends, and ferocious leapers morphed into crumbled
    heaps on the floor. The work ended in silence, a specter of death.

    On a different note: Denise Leitner's new "Pathways #10," performed
    by her company, a Dancer's Voice, blended quicksilver jazz gyrations,
    threaded with high kicks and feral energy, as the female quintet
    bobbed to the Creatures' propulsive score.

    Four plucky Bela Fleck arrangements (including some full-tilt Bach)
    made the perfect sonic accompaniment to Backhausdance's latest,
    "Sitting on January." Choreographed by Jennifer Backhaus McIvor, the
    work featured six women and a lone male (William Lu), gamboling with
    chairs. All sweetness and charm, there was a Paul Taylor feel to the
    work, with technical finesse equal to the spirited footwork.

    Nuevo flamenco reared its passionate head in Deborah Greenfield's
    new, "Juego Flamenco," dramatically danced by the choreographer's
    company, Rosa Negra Flamenco. Split kicks, unexpected partnering and
    saucy shoulder dips rocked, although Greenfield's costuming --
    unfortunate leggings and tunics for the gals, bland pants and white
    shirts over muscle tees for the guys -- screamed for help. Even
    worse, Greenfield's solo was overpowered by an onstage pair of
    amplified musicians.

    Completing the program: the previously reviewed "Light,"
    choreographed by San Pedro City Ballet's Patrick David Bradley; and
    Jazz Antiqua Dance and Music Ensemble's deft performance of Pat
    Taylor's take on excerpts from John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme."

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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