Dancemakers – Jacob & Nova

December 9, 2011
Reviewed by Paula Citron

Dancemakers
Choreography by Jacob Zimmer (Story Dance Radio) and Nova Bhattacharya (Red and Yellow)
Performed by Robert Abubo, Amanda Acorn, Kate Holden, Pierre-Marc Ouellette, Simon Renaud and Christopher Stanton
Dancemakers Centre for Creation
Dec. 7 to 18, 2011

Jacob & Nova is an evening of attractive dance. There is, however, a retrograde aspect to the concert which shaves a tad off the originality quotient.

Since taking over Dancemakers in 2006, artistic director Michael Trent has invited many different choreographers to set pieces on his company. Jacob Zimmer and Nova Bhattacharya are the latest creators to add their works to the Dancemakers’ repertoire.

Both choreographers anchored the core of their dances on tried and true concepts. Happily, the been-there-done that feeling was assuaged by an interesting context (Zimmer) and beautiful movement (Bhattacharya).

The heart of Zimmer’s Story Dance Radio is the parade of humanity living out a radio DJ’s fantasy by adopting a different persona each time they cross the stage.

Bhattacharya uses her bharatanatyam/contemporary dance fusion to convey group ritual overlying individual inner monologues in the abstract piece Red and Yellow.

Both works look very good on the Dancemakers company.

Jacob & Nova continues at Dancemakers Centre for Creation until Dec. 18.