2008 Woodie Awards
Prime Movers Dance Concert; Expression Comes in Various Steps of Talent
A Review
Charla Duncan
Issue date: 12/6/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment
The Dance Department at UNCG should be really thankful that gaucho pants are in back in style and in demand; without them, the Prime Movers dance concert this past weekend, December 2 and 3, would have been in need.
Prime Movers is a student run group of student choreographers from UNCG's Department of Dance who, despite their amateur status, packed the house. And when I say packed, I mean packed. Eighteen folding chairs were brought in to accommodate eager audience members and fill the theatre to capacity. Lucky for me because Prime Movers forgot to put a ticket on hold for the Carolinian and I almost did not get in.
But an hour and a half later after the sell-out, almost fiasco, nine dances had been performed and nine choreographers had gotten their name out there to the UNCG community, for better or for worse.
"Claddagh," a piece choreographed and performed by Erin Leigh and Alexander Windner Liberman, opened the show and set a solid tone and pace for the rest of the evening. With interesting partner work, the two dancers danced the tale of what seemed to be the tumultuous relationship between a woman and a man, or what almost could be interpreted as mother and son. Premise aside, both dancers displayed a comfort with their partner's bodies that is imperative for a successful partner piece.
"I Was Always Thirsty," choreographed by Kristen Osborne, was a particular favorite of mine and a reminder to the audience that dance too can be a form of social commentary. With music by Moby and text readings from National Public Radio and Wel Mayom Jok, Osborne danced with two others about current issues in Africa, namely involving the Sudan region. Jok appeared as part of the dance as well, subtly moving as to highlight his recording of his past in Africa. Though filled with technically sound and graceful movements, "I Was Always Thirsty" had a slight disconnection between dance and text reading and I often found myself lost in the Jok's voice, whose auditory dance slightly upstaged the movers.
Prime Movers is a student run group of student choreographers from UNCG's Department of Dance who, despite their amateur status, packed the house. And when I say packed, I mean packed. Eighteen folding chairs were brought in to accommodate eager audience members and fill the theatre to capacity. Lucky for me because Prime Movers forgot to put a ticket on hold for the Carolinian and I almost did not get in.
But an hour and a half later after the sell-out, almost fiasco, nine dances had been performed and nine choreographers had gotten their name out there to the UNCG community, for better or for worse.
"Claddagh," a piece choreographed and performed by Erin Leigh and Alexander Windner Liberman, opened the show and set a solid tone and pace for the rest of the evening. With interesting partner work, the two dancers danced the tale of what seemed to be the tumultuous relationship between a woman and a man, or what almost could be interpreted as mother and son. Premise aside, both dancers displayed a comfort with their partner's bodies that is imperative for a successful partner piece.
"I Was Always Thirsty," choreographed by Kristen Osborne, was a particular favorite of mine and a reminder to the audience that dance too can be a form of social commentary. With music by Moby and text readings from National Public Radio and Wel Mayom Jok, Osborne danced with two others about current issues in Africa, namely involving the Sudan region. Jok appeared as part of the dance as well, subtly moving as to highlight his recording of his past in Africa. Though filled with technically sound and graceful movements, "I Was Always Thirsty" had a slight disconnection between dance and text reading and I often found myself lost in the Jok's voice, whose auditory dance slightly upstaged the movers.
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