Choreography Project #1

Adam Mohrbacher

Reviewing the Arts

Spring 2009

Choreography Project #I

Last Friday at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago human bodies flew through the air framed by elegant lighting and ingenious bits of prop work and set design. The dance show Choreography Project #1 was composed of seven dances of great variety and passion. These individual dances were all very well choreographed and performed and each one worked well as a stand alone piece and as a small segment of a larger artistic statement. The dances avoided becoming repetitive because each one was able to define itself both in its aesthetics and in the thematic material that the dance was trying to convey. The dances covered a wide range of topics including drug addiction and the power of spirituality. 

The first dance of the night proved to be the most unimpressive of the bunch. This was the only piece where you were unable to truly get a sense of what the choreographer or the actual performers were attempting to convey through their movements. This was also the only dance where the costumes of the dancers were not only unhelpful in relation to conveying some deeper theme or enhancing the overall experience. The dancers in this piece were dressed in what appeared to be jeans and a variety of old T-shirts. This aesthetic choice was not only ineffective but downright offensive. 

However, despite this dreadfully slow start the show picked up steam in the following number. This piece was an impressive and lyrical ode to the struggle of overcoming addictions. The dancers were all dressed in black and white striped shirts with black overalls over these shirts. Their movements were slow and drugged out. As the piece progressed they became more violent, more chaotic, as if they were attempting to break free or crawl out of some hole that they had fallen into. This piece really set the overall tone for the remainder of the show, in terms of quality. The other pieces were also very impressive and most included one or more striking visual props to help clarify the theme and intention of the piece. One, in particular, was a dance that focused on the power of spirituality. The stage for this piece was kept relatively bare, but there was one single bright light in the corner of the stage. The dancers in this piece repeatedly made movements which suggested that they must always return to this light to find a sense of inner balance and peace. This was another example of how the show used simple but staggeringly effective props and ideas to communicate its messages.

For the casual dance fan or a seasoned veteran of the dance community this particular show was more than worthwhile of someone’s time and effort. Dance on its own can often become a very cryptic and removing experience. For me it has often been something that I relate to on a very basic level. I can appreciate the physical abilities of the dancers and enjoy the complicated movements that they make. However, I am often lost when it comes to deciphering the actual themes or deeper messages involved with a dance piece. This was not something I struggled with during my viewing of Choreography Project #1. I was blown away by this powerful and beautiful show.