What’s better than dancing all night long? A night at Fall For Dance, of course. Especially if you enjoy watching others dance more than dancing yourself. The September 26th Fall For Dance Festival performance was a jubilant gathering of highly talented performers from all over the map, set in the artistic environment of City Center. Even from the seats in the mezzanine, the energy of every performing group was apparent.

First on the program was The Devil in the Detail, a collection of ragtime-style numbers, presented by the Richard Alston Dance Company, and accompanied by piano. This playful dance number did indeed feature “jazzy swagger,” as noted in the program. The dancers moved with grace and sass, very much in sync with each other. The only complaint that could be offered on this dance was its almost excessive repetition. As dancers emerged in solos and pairs, one would expect the increase of numbers on stage to signify the approach of a climactic moment. But the dancers persisted in entering, exiting, reentering, and re-exiting, repeating very similar moves, until it became redundant. The accompanying music was all very similar as well, which lessened any contrast between each segment. This being said, the dancers’ performances taken individually were very clean cut and enjoyable to watch.

The second item on the program, the world premiere of Esencia de Tango, was by far the most intense performance of the night, and the one with the most storyline and effective structure. Dramatic lighting and costumes were used to great effect, heightening emotions and character. This was audibly appreciated by audience members after the comparably bland Devil in the Detail.  JP Jofre’s bandonéon performance was also a highlight of this piece, as his expressive performance style knit his presence with the dancers on stage. Dancers in Esencia embodied the passionate music with their intensity of focus and precision of movement. The audience was very appreciative of some fancy footwork in particular.

The shortest piece on the program, The Bright Motion, was like a palette-cleansing intermezzo after Esencia de Tango, focusing on the bodies of the dancers moving in clear, indeed bright, movements. Unlike the two performances before this one, there were only two dancers, and the dance was a ballet. The discipline of dancers Sara Mearns and Casey Herd was evident in their unity of movement and focus.

At the end of this long but consistently exciting night, Dance Brazil exploded with energy on the stage, with rough, almost violent movement in Fé Do Sertão, or “the faith of the backcountry.” Indeed, the costumes of dancers and the patchy lighting created the environment of a rougher civilization with raw beauty. Dancers routinely performed athletic stunts throughout the dance, eliciting applause from the audience at times. Though Dance Brazil’s dancers were less synchronized than other companies, they had a unity of energy and enthusiasm that was infectious, and they had an enthusiastic response from viewers.

The program was well coordinated to show off a variety of styles, and the juxtaposition was very effective in bringing out the special characteristics of each dance and dance company. The order of the program paired more minimalist performances with flashier ones, which helped the overall appreciation of each dance company’s particular strong points. Talent and enthusiasm were not lacking, and the variety presented made one truly feel like they had had an introduction to dance  in a night.

Watching Fall for Dance as a class made the experience even more exciting. Every class member had a response to each dance number that made the viewing response more enjoyable — in fact, when a nearby audience member shh’d at us, I almost resented it. This was a dance festival, a communal experience. Just as the dancers were responding to each other on stage, I felt that we as the audience, should be engaged in watching together. (In a minimally disturbing way, of course.)

The overall experience was one unlike any other performing arts scene I have ever experienced. The dancers were extremely skilled, but they effectively drew the audience into their performance world with their charm, making the performance both personal and professionally formal at the same time. Such a high-end performance and an evening with friends was a wonderful experience, one that should be recommended to anyone with the opportunity to attend a Fall for Dance Festival performance.