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| Photo By Moving Art |
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The five dancers in "Grrls with Guns" create dynamic physical support systems for one another.
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Don't let the title intimidate you --
Grrls with Guns is not about violence,
despite its growl. Nor could it be called an angry manifestation
of femi-Nazi politics. It's actually a well-paced presentation,
mostly mellow in tone, of two new works from Moving Art Dance Company,
Cincinnati's new contemporary ensemble, presented at Contemporary
Dance Theater.
Set almost entirely to live music, the show revolves around social constructs of womanhood steeped in a sense of duality. The sculptural quality of the movements enhanced by warm lighting was lovely to watch. Electric violin, guitars and the unexpected sci-fi tones of a Theremin lent an otherworldly aural ambiance to the production. Dancer/composer Rebecca Parker provided ethereal vocals for a few sections.
"Ovulation" features three dancers clad in sexpot garb -- hot pants, fishnet tights, topped off with dangerously high stiletto platform sandals. Offset by a barefoot duo moving in an earthy, classic modern style, the limber trio executes strong, sinewy pliés and hinges, awkward stretches and burlesque-style extensions while bathed in red light.
The second piece, "Grrls with Guns," also toys with physical elements of femininity, effectively demonstrated with layers of clothing -- and their partial removal. The five dancers also create dynamic physical support systems for each other.
One could easily recognize the practical or self-critical gestures as each woman primps alone before an imaginary mirror. Both male and female spectators could relate to this recurring motif.
The transition when the guns (white plastic-covered rifles) first appear could have been stronger and more heartfelt when the women caterwaul like cowgirls. Although they were used creatively as props and symbols of traditional male power, the guns didn't feel as integral to the work as the title might suggest.
Michelle Bump and Holly Price share a provocative duet as the evening's most dramatic sequence. Their mercurial relationship shifts between loving, tender contact (maternal or sexual) and controlling aggression with manipulative pushing and pulling movements.
Enhanced by the intimate space at Contemporary Dance Theater, the choreography
frequently walked a fine line between being sexy and eerily disturbing,
making the show a captivating one. Grade: A
GRRLS WITH GUNS, presented by Moving Art Dance Company, continues through March 12.
