en Route! 2009 in Richmond VA

Next Reflex Dance Collective traveled down the highway 2 hours away to Richmond, VA on March 22 to produce the third year of En Route! A traveling Dance Project. Four artists from the Richmond area shared their work in a successful and diverse show at the Grace Street Theater.
The performance opened with a new work by one of NRDC's artistic directors , Erika Surma, called "Even Tide." The movements eb and flow carried the dancers limbs in the tide. The piece opened on two dancers gentle manipulation of sheer blue fabric . The choreography brought us from high tide to ocean storm to the gentle lapping of the waves against the rocks.
Megan Harrold a promising choreographer in the Richmond area, presented " yxyxy" a solo that is short but beautiful. The two minutes that we listen to the Inuit vocals we are captivated by the dancers raw emotional movement. Costumed in a long gown and restricted to the rectangular taped box on the ground she embodies the guttural voices.
""...a notorious absence of rigor," (H)e said." closed the first half of the show. danahbella has a true gift for bodies in space. Her movement like silk she makes falling to the floor look so seamless. Four dancers dressed in pants, dress shirts and men's ties throw themselves through space and yet there is something very business about the choreography. Through the large movements we become involved in the small gestures that poke through .
The second half of the performance opens with "Work Out" a wonderful light piece choreographed by Kaye Weinstein Gary from Richmond. The three dancers have amazing physiques and show us how to use them, doing more push ups than I ever wish to do on stage. Kaye tells us stories about her day, what she had for breakfast, that protein shake, and helps a dancer not commit suicide by pleading with her not to blame the workout for her life. The choreography is funny and brought the audience in for a ride, forced without hesitation to participate by working out in their seats.
Nadine Azoulay is a young choreographer from Richmond and danced a beautiful contemporary ballet solo called "barre." Using two ballet barres as props Nadine twists, swings balances and uses every part of her body on the barres, a no-no in any ballet class. The piece is beautiful in that it's non traditional approach to point work and partnering.
"Frayed" a piece choreographed by NRDC's other artistic director Roxann Morgan Rowley closed the concert. Dancers donned in white wedding dresses perform a tragic piece that ends with a jump to the front of the stage. Each dancer appears to be troubled by an incident in their life and pleads to tell their story. The stark lighting creates an dramatic environment for the choreography and the audience feels the music tug at their emotions as the dancers finally jump to their death.
Overall a lovely performance. Next Reflex Dance Collective hopes to collaborate again next spring with choreographers in Richmond, VA.