Despite promising an hour’s worth of entertainment, displaying different styles of dance, and highlighting work from various international choreographers, this showcase lacked variety. As expected, the quality ranged from seasoned professional to forgettable, however, a few shining performances did compensate for the mundane pieces of others.
Presenting four unrelated pieces of choreography, the showcase begins with Black & Blue performed by Kate Rafter and Dustin Ordway who have a firm command of the stage in this contemporary piece. Both dancers have a beautiful and fascinating muscular control over their movement, particularly during the slow motion moments of the routine.
Following this thought provoking performance was Rejuvenate: The D’Angelo Trilogy presented by Candace Thomas, Kimberly Turner, Stephanie Sermas and Jaimee Vilela. This contemporary ballet piece was sharply executed and the performers demonstrated some excellent, fluid, floor work. With complex choreography changing to a fast-paced style, the talent of these enthusiastic performers was evidently displayed. For me, the highlight of the show was Jaimee Vilela, whose facial expressions and well-polished movement complimented her elegant manner as she effortlessly floated around the stage.
The third piece, ‘Silenced’ by Melinda Caubarreaux, was interesting; however, the work’s duration outlived its interest. Despite the fluidity of this very talented performance, the routine became slightly repetitive and the energy dropped.
The showcase came to a close with a sublime and diverse section titled Epiphany, Empowerment, Indestructible, performed by Jacqueline Coleman, Stephanie Sermas, Candace Thomas, Kim Turner and Jaimee Vilela. The dancers moved seamlessly around the stage creating an exciting fusion of classical ballet and contemporary ballet styles.The costumes were simple yet effective and complemented this graceful dance routine.
Despite a few stumbling blocks, monotony, and lack of energy, moments of this showcase were truly satisfying and intensely stimulating. Overall it was an enjoyable show and the talent of the performers is undeniable. That being said, overall it was an enjoyable show, the talent of the performers is undeniable, yet the lack of depth and diversity in performance failed to meet the high standards accredited to Dance-Forms.
