Joyce Theater Presents COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET

The curtain rises on the first act to a stage full of dancers leaping and twirling like flowers in a magical garden. A peppy, jovial orchestra bellows out through crisp speakers. The expert lighting casts shadows under a warm glow, and the dancers, in sparse nude costumes, resemble flawless Greek sculptures. As they move their bodies their musculature gleams, showing us the impressive level of strength and precision each dancer executes, while, on the surface, remaining incredibly graceful and agile.  The statuesque quality of the dancers evokes imagery of Ancient Greece. It is easy to imagine the nearly nude dancers leaping around crumbling stones and twisting vines. The rich music is pure baroque decadence— luxurious and romantic. The diverse group of dancers with varying heights, body types and skin tones, is appropriately contemporary and, in this writer’s view, a refreshing divergence from homogenous dance groups of the modern era.  The choreography ties this all together by incorporating traditional pointe ballet with unusual influences, evident in the low, sweeping West African dance moves and sensual salsa moments. The first act reflects a globalism that transcends music and dance.

The second act is pure Bowie. We have moved on to the world of strobe lights, asymmetrical, boldly colored leotards, and shimmering face paint. Even a pair of gold platform heels make an appearance. Dancers leap and pose and lip sync under nearly neon lights, transforming the Joyce into an underground new age disco club. We feel heartbreaking passion as dancers arch their backs in sliding splits. Then comes Friday night sassiness as dancers strut on pointed toes. In this writer’s view, the choreography perfectly captures the essence of Bowie’s music.

Alternating Programs For an Entire Month at The Joyce Theater

Three distinct programs are offered during this month long run. Program A features the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in the first act and David Bowie in the second. On the surface, the two artists are extremely different, separated by centuries and various eras of music between them.  However, after experiencing the performance, Rhoden’s thought process in this deliberate paring seems evident to this writer. Both musical artists are dynamic, powerful and moving. Both Bach’s and Bowie’s compositions are layered with nuances and subtleties that the dancers effortlessly pick up, translating the music to the language of movement stunningly.