Aubree Brown + Jamal White Ailey II began their season last weekend (April 2) at their home, Ailey Citigroup with two programs: “All New” 2013 premieres: Alchemies by Adam Barruch, Cuore Sott’Olio (heart submerged in oil) by Katrzyna Skarpetowska and Wings by Jennifer Archibald. The second program, “Returning Favorites” includes Alvin Ailey’s Streams (1970), artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Robert Battle’s We (2010), Benoit Swan Pouffer’s Rusty (2012) and Amy Hall Garner’s Virtues (2012). From each distinctive movement (fusing folk with contemporary dance) to the emotion-filled context, Skarpetowaska’s more mature Cuore Sott’Olio was most successful. There are some clichés: an emotionally perplexed female figure (wonderfully performed by Tyler Brown) that, with timed blackouts “magically” morphed into another person; and there is also the cluster where bodies are lifted, spilled or swallowed up. Nonetheless, the other parts far outweigh these choices. In Cuore Sott’Olio the dancers give, and kept giving. The trio of men (sans their soon-to-be partners) where these buddies, with arms locked at the shoulders circle the stage, in regulated runs, low to the ground, is one example. The other is the stunning duets danced by Aubree Brown + Jamal White, Jacquelin Harris + David Adrian Freeland Jr., and Danica Paulos + Riccardo Battaglia. In the first duet, the lovers, Brown and White are inseparable. Brown is gorgeous, but more than that, her sinuous and everlasting responses to White’s caressing lifts were picture perfect. Harris and Freeland Jr.’s quick-paced duet with fast switches and shifts, facing towards or away from each other, was nearly formal except for some dare devil partnering—Harris lands around Freeland Jr.’s waist (he’s on all fours) from a wild jump without him using arms, for instance. The final duet with Paulos and Battaglia is a mix of quirky and angular “folk”- driven movement---weighted hips, hunkered torso, and near miss connections. Barruch’s dark, unison-driven Alchemies opened the evening, and Archibald’s – hip hop cum contemporary work, Wings closed. The dancers of Ailey II deserve accolades because they take on a work and find their way in; they are chameleons of dance in that way.
Ailey II continues this weekend. Find out more here
Ailey II continues this weekend. Find out more here
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