Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie – Living Dances – An Evening of Contemporary Kudelka

reviewed by Paula Citron
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Living Dances – An Evening of Contemporary Kudelka
Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie
Choreography by James Kudelka
Performed by Bill Coleman, Laurence Lemieux, Michael Sean Marye, Andrew Giday, Daniel Taylor and the Theatre of Early Music, with Christianne Ullmark, Graham McKelvie, Kate Alton, Luke Garwood, Jones Henry and Valerie Calam
At the Fleck Dance Theatre until Nov. 7
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Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie are presenting four works by choreographer James Kudelka. The two from the 1980s, In Paradisum and Soudain L’Hiver Dernier, are Canadian classics. The two new pieces are anchored in intriguing physical images.

Beautiful Movie features Bill Coleman, countertenor Daniel Taylor, and a rag doll. The piece is set to arias by Schütz and Bach that both use the text which means “have mercy”. The doll is dressed exactly like the men in a grey suit and white shirt. Coleman manipulates the doll, harassing Taylor who is singing all the while in a tightly choreographed trio.

Biber’s The Guardian Angel Sonata underlies See #1, a solo for Laurence Lemieux. Violinist Adrian Butterfield is the fixed point foil to Lemieux who is drawn inexorably to something beyond her reach.

The concert, which features ten excellent dancers, superb music and stimulating repertoire, is a class act from start to finish.

Living Dances continues at the Fleck Dance Theatre until Nov. 7.