An Evening of Dance.

“Wow” was the first word that I uttered when the performance of “Xover” began onstage. Contrary to my preconception about dance performances, I was stunned at how refreshingly original the soundtrack was. The music definitely caught my attention as dancers on stage pranced away. However, I was rather disappointed as the choreographed dance routine felt out of place. Even though the dancing was synchronized, it seemed that the dancers were in a world totally their own. The backdrop provided an enchanting mood for the whole performance; still the dancers’ body language confused me and made me question the point of the routine.

“I Can See Myself in Your Pupil,” the second act of the evening, was an excellently choreographed piece. It not only brought energy to the audience, but it was crafted and rehearsed exponentially better compared to the daft performance of “Xover.” The dancers were better synchronized, as they cooperated well with the soundtrack and brought life back to the entire Fall For Dance program. After this performance I couldn’t deny giving the dance company a standing ovation. It was just that beautiful.

However, by the time the third performance began, I started to lose hope. “Vistaar” wasn’t exactly the ideal cultural performance. Even though this third act presented a new aspect of the program, its long-winded nature destroyed any momentum the “teacher” and her “pupils” onstage had built. Furthermore, the dancer at the center of the ensemble seemed less experienced onstage, as her movements was stiff and unpolished. The dancers to the left and right of the “teacher” seemed more able to enthrall the audience, so it would have been more fitting if they were the focus of the performance.

I felt absolutely elated when the fourth and final performance was underway.  “The Golden Section” was fascinating because of the strong performance from the dancers. I don’t understand all the aspects of ballet but it was really clear that they had intense training in the field. There were moments of togetherness and precision only ballet dancers could have, even though the dance was more modern. There was a lot of chemistry and trust among the dancers, which made watching them more enjoyable than watching the previous group. I thought this ensemble of dancers was the most professional and polished out of all four.