20/20 Vision

Reviewed by Paula Citron

20/20 Vision
Kaeja d’Dance 20th Anniversary
Harbourfront NextSteps Series
Choreography by Allen and Karen Kaeja
Performed by Karen Kaeja, Stéphanie Tremblay Abubo, Courtnae Bowman, Zhenya Cerneacov, Mairéad Filgate, and Norway’s Ut i Scenekunsten
Enwave Theatre
Apr. 12 to 16, 2011

Kaeja d’Dance is celebrating its 20th anniversary by featuring new work by co-founders and husband and wife, Allen and Karen Kaeja.

Allen’s world premiere Armour/Amour is the most impressive piece on the program. A duet for Karen and Mairéad Filgate, it uses live media by Elysha Poirier and live cinematography by Allen. In the piece, technology helps to reveal gut-wrenching truth about the human body.

Despite the obvious merits of the other three pieces, they all need editing.
Karen’s The Visitor, is a wonderful showpiece for Stéphanie Tremblay Abubo. The dance depicts a woman who can’t find ease because she is sexually frustrated.

Quenched is Karen’s charming push-me/pull-me duet for Courtnae Bowman and Zhenya Cerneacov, set around a beach umbrella.

Allen has brought over Norway’s Ut i Scenekunsten. They perform his work Jericho which premiered in Oslo in February. The five Norwegian dancers execute contact improv gone wild.

Kaeja d’Dance continues at the Enwave Theatre until Apr. 16.