Harbourfront NextSteps – ProArteDanza

reviewed by Paula Citron
__________________________

ProArteDanza
Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps
Fleck Dance Theatre until Oct. 17
__________________________

ProArteDanza’s fifth anniversary show features choreography by artistic director Roberto Campanella and artistic associate Robert Glumbek. On opening night, the cheers came early and often – which is not to say that the works are perfect.

The most ambitious piece is Campanella’s “Maria Celeste” which explores the life of Galileo through the letters of his daughter, the Maria Celeste of the title. Glumbek’s “Hidden Places” uses the voluptuous score of Arnold Schönberg’s “Transfigured Night” to examine sturm und drang relationships. Similarly, “Unfinished 32”, which was co-choreographed by Campanella and Glumbek, while divinely danced, also presents the men as masters of melancholy.

The final piece is the winner. “Beethoven’s 9th – 1st Movement” is flat-out dance that captures the music’s stormy and disconnected centre. One hopes the men can choreograph the entire symphony so they can travel the journey to ultimate joy.

There is always an edgy flavour about a ProArteDanza program which makes for exciting performances.

ProArteDanza continues at the Fleck Dance Theatre until Oct. 17.