Last Friday, I had the pleasure of going to see Hedwig Dances give a preview showing of work that will be included in their 25th Anniversary Concert at the Dance Center this April.
The work shown included a work-in-progress showing of company member Alitra Cartman's piece Stones in the Locker, an excerpt of Andrea Miller's new work Dust, and several excerpts from Jan Bartoszek's new work Dance of Forgotten Steps.
This was my first time seeing Hedwig Dances. The money in my monthly dance budget goes largely to taking classes rather than seeing concerts, so there are an unfortunate number of local artists that are on my "To See" list. I took advantage of the fact that this was a free preview showing and decided to broaden my horizons a little. I was very pleased with what I saw.
The physicality and dynamics of Dust were very beautiful and the dancers made the movement look very masculine, which is always nice to see. Cartman's work showed her to be a powerhouse of a mover and she performed with true maturity, despite her relative youth. But the real standout of the afternoon was Bartoszek's work. The movement in Dance of Forgotten Steps is fluid, athletic, picturesque, and engaging. The choreography was drawn from memories that each cast member felt was integral to their identity. All of the dancers are dynamic and powerful, and watching them dance their memories added an intimate feeling to an exciting performance.
This performance was so satisfying to watch that I decided I had to go to their 25th Anniversary Concert. I'm already saving up for my ticket!
Hedwig Dances 25th Anniversary Concert April 1 - 3 at the Dance Center of Columbia College at 8pm.
Friday, February 26, 2010
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