OnStage Dance Firm Season 26

Typically once I assessment dance, I understand a theme that connects the varied works inside a sure program. I didn’t discover an obvious one in Higher Boston-based OnStage Dance Firm’s Season 26 efficiency; it was extra hodgepodge of varied themes and types. The benefit of that may be a multifaceted image of all that dance might be, can provide. This program introduced that in spades, and fairly commendably so – which is barely OnStage’s par-for-the-course. 

As maybe my one critique – or curiosity – about this system, I ponder if extra grouping like-with-like would have been extra grounding and satisfying. Environment and aesthetic typically modified drastically from piece to piece, which might really feel simply the slightest bit disorienting. A counter-argument there could also be maintaining issues feeling as dynamic as this system total was, and truthful sufficient.

Way more memorably, this program gave me a way of this firm constructing a legacy, a convention, a historical past – one grounded in its steadfast mission of extending efficiency alternatives to adults of varied walks of life. “Throwback” works tipped a hat to earlier seasons. Intermittent video montages gave home windows into course of, previous and current. 

Generally talking over video of dancers working arduous in rehearsal, choreographers mentioned how they’ve grown of their craft by means of their years with OnStage, what ideas and stylistic approaches are at present inspiring them, and rather more. All of that has come by means of just below 14 years (with two seasons per 12 months, and accounting for COVID disruptions) of making, performing, connecting as artists and as people. All indicators level to how that may proceed for a few years to return. 

OnStage Director Jennifer Kuhnberg’s Mein Herr, a staple of the musical Cabaret, kicked off the present. It was ever so barely quirky, with only a pinch of the enticingly sultry – a high quality that’s very true to its musical of origin. Throughout the giant ensemble, I might get pleasure from each distinctive dancer signatures and group cohesion (for instance, a traditional kickline). Each approaches helped create that quirky, sultry high quality, and therein saved me totally engaged. 

Erica Thorp’s “Throwback” You Ought to See Me in A Crown adopted, with one other vibrant ensemble. The rating repeated messages that tradition levies at girls – which the dancers met with defiant ferocity. Black costumes, an electronica beat, and delightfully offbeat motion vocabulary (on high of a powerful technical base) added to that blend a daring, edgy really feel.  

Shifting into the extra emotive modern, Emily Hong’s False Confidence introduced me in by means of juxtapositional sharp gestures and expansive actions. The ensemble crammed the stage with uncooked energy and emotional dedication. Maddy Dugan’s Jungle – a jazz funk piece full with excessive kicks, sparkly sequined shirts, and flashing lights – switched up the environment but once more. Dancers hit unison counts in addition to they made canons. Weaving out and in of one another’s paths, they felt related. It jogged my memory that dance might be merely vigorous, and that’s useful too.

With Mykayla Cohen’s What Was I Made For, set to Billie Eilish’s track of the identical title, we had been again to reflective modern. Cohen established a practical environment with college desks and costumes of slacks, blouses. Evocative moments of connection and disconnection created a way of narrative at hand, however – as I feel is one thing particular about dance – that story might be many various issues within the eye of the beholder.  

Following that was a enjoyable faucet piece, of a crimson/black aesthetic as clear and cohesive because the tappers’ sounds: Victory Dance from Visitor Choreographer Maya Jain, of Pistachio Groove (with Rehearsal Director Sara Lodgen). Claps added much more rhythm and spice – the get together was on! The rating bursted with vivacious Latin beats: factors to Jain for exploring one thing comparatively uncharted (at the least not which I’ve skilled)! 

One other “Throwback,” Catherine Shortliffe’s My Oh My, got here subsequent: a dance movie bursting with genuine feeling, contemporary motion vocabulary, and fascinating cinematography. There was a barely chilling thriller about these movers – much more in order they pale into clear, opacity rising. All of it got here collectively into one thing ghostly, one thing to resonate into bone and keep there some time. On a motion degree, the work illustrated how primary base motion vocabulary might be blended and molded to help the environment at hand. 

Then got here I Discovered from Victoria Rousseau: extra heart-tugging modern, with dancers seeming to hunt one another however remaining remoted. It was not overly athletic, however had reaching limbs and gestural intricacy to dazzle. Most placing was kinetic connection: with the ability and grounding of the stage, with fluid connection of backbone and periphery, in rhythm and in house. 

In one other notable shift of tone, a disco get together took the stage with Allie Hahn’s The Place to Be. It was a real kaleidoscope of coloration and vitality, bursting with infectious enjoyable – the sort makes me want I might be proper up there on that stage with the performers! It didn’t take something exceedingly virtuosic, as conventionally outlined, to get there.  

Again to emotive modern, Kuhnberg’s Black Flies supplied a second to breathe and really feel a somber calm. Spirals contrasted linear motion, rises offset melts. As they assembled to raise certainly one of their very own greater, the ensemble embodied the rating’s testomony that “no man is an island.” They maintained connection of a unique form as they circled, executing unison motion. I needed to take a seat in that therapeutic connection for even longer. 

One thing extra mysterious adopted, Visitor Choreographer Raffi Pontes’ Oya. The dancers’ navy blue unitards mirrored the haunting chill within the singer’s voice (Ibeyi, with “Oya”). The dancers’ tenacity in motion solely elevated the edgy thriller filling the stage. Susan Oziemblewski’s Pay Your Approach in Ache, following that, was offbeat and mysterious another way. Wigs of varied colours, unconventional clothes, and choreography exuding pure self-confidence created a sense of being “bizarre” and proud. I commend the boldness and authenticity brimming from this work! 

That work started with a unbelievable faucet solo from Hannah Perry, and a full faucet piece adopted – Radio Remix from Perry herself. All we heard was pure faucet beats, as there was no rating (and it’s no simple job to remain on depend with out one). Darkish slacks and sky blue blazers gave the sensation of assured enterprise informal, of ladies lucid of their targets and able to attain for them. 

The ultimate throwback in this system got here subsequent, Outta Your Thoughts from Naomi Owens and restaged by Hannah Perry. It opened with intriguing theatricality: of bored college students sitting at their desks, peppering time with little moments of mischief. They doodled in notebooks and threw paper balls. The bell rang, after which they actually let it unfastened. 

Sharp, clear hip hop vocabulary translated their vim, verve, and “don’t mess” angle. It was dance telling a narrative, however not an excellent deep or emotional one – and that’s alright. Life holds so many various experiences, ripe for the portray in and thru our bodies with this artwork kind. 

As is customary, a finale that includes the entire forged closed this system. Every dancer might have a second within the highlight – one thing particular that this firm all the time does, and which displays their total mission: giving hard-working adults of all totally different professions and locations in life an opportunity to create, to precise, to deliver slightly extra mild to this typically darkish world. That may’t do all the pieces, however it will probably nonetheless imply lots. I sit up for seeing this firm proceed doing simply that, and I thank them for it! 

By Kathryn Boland of Dance Informa.