By Katie Potzick
Comstock Hall in the University of Louisville’s School of Music is home to many performances throughout the year, but none as exciting or energetic as the one coming up on Sat., Nov. 17.
Moving Collectives, a Louisville dance company, is starting off their 2007-2008 season with an action-packed modern dance show, “Returns.”
“Returns” is a collection of contemporary dances choreographed by some of Louisville’s most noteworthy dancers and choreographers. It is designed to entertain both newcomers and long time enthusiasts of modern dance.
The dances in “Returns” revolve around modern themes that are easy for college students to relate to, and several of them are set to modern music.
One dance that seems particularly suited to young adults is “Rightways.” “Rightways” explores the different paths people choose to take in their lives and the changes they make along the way.
Anyone who has ever changed their major or had to make a decision about what career path to take can identify with this theme of life-altering changes. “A Building Decline” by Tamara Begley is another dance that connects to the everyday college experience.
It displays what happens when less acceptable feelings are continually repressed and pushed below the surface causing them to erupt all at once. It is danced by a single performer who acts out a cycle of frustration, aggravation and calm to the pulsing music of Feist.
Two other dances that incorporate popular music are “Just for Now” set to Imogene Heap and “Into Blue” set to Arcade Fire.
One of the most interesting offerings in “Returns” is “Sneaky Exponential” choreographed by Beth Rodriguez, director of Beth Rodriguez Dance Projects.
“Sneaky Exponential” is a fun and innovative dance about escaping from the routine. Rodriguez describes it as, “Orwell’s 1984 adapted by Monty Python.”
“Returns” is the fourth show that Moving Collectives has put on in Louisville.
Begley, of the principal organizers of Moving Collectives, said, “The show was a great experience to put together. We’ve gotten good turnout at the other performances and hope to this time as well.”
Theresa Bautiste, another primary member of Moving Collectives, said, ” ‘Returns’ is a special show because it is a collaboration of a lot of different dancers and choreographers who have all returned to Louisville from other parts of the country.
We all have a unique connection to each other and to the city of Louisville in general.”
According to Bautiste, Moving Collections aims to provide choreographers with an outlet to create and dancers to perform professionally, while expanding Louisvillian’s’ dance horizons.
While it may be true that modern dance is not the most appreciated art form in the Louisville area, Saturday’s performance of “Returns” will definitely leave audiences eagerly awaiting the next return of Moving Collective.
