Dancemakers – light/confronts/unknown

by Paula Citron

The mixed repertoire concert “light/confronts/unknown” is Dancemakers’ first Premiere Dance Theatre season under Michael Trent as new artistic director.

The piece that earned the most applause is not by Trent. “The Thing of the World” by New York choreographer Doug Varone graphically portrays a co-dependent dynamic between two gay men, and Dan Wild and Trent pulled off powerful performances.

The other two works are by Trent. On one hand they portray his keen intellectual inquiry. On the other, they show him as a choreographer in development.

“Acts of Light” is three duets set to the evocative music of a Prokofiev’s piano concerto. Trent cleverly uses aspects of light – chiaroscuro, reflection and speed – to depict the intimate relationships between couples as seen through qualities of movement.

Where “Acts of Light” is inventive and intriguing, “Constructing Doubt”, which was created with the dancers, is flawed Trent. It is too long, too busy, and at times, too self-indulgent.

Dancemakers continues until Saturday.

From Premiere Dance Theatre, I’m Paula Citron, arts reviewer for CLASSICAL 96.3 FM.