Theater Online - New York Theater Reviews

  

 Sol West Dance Collaborative presented a series of short, energetic works at their Body & Sol showcase at Symphony Space. Proceeds went towards the New York At Risk program, where young individuals are aided with various formula’s for growth and development including mentors, goal setting methods, long weekend retreats, and workshops. This evening kept the audience wholesomely engaged, and concluded with a desire to get up out of their chairs and dance with the company members in the audience space! 

The opening piece entitled Wild Party started what truly felt like a dance party for all involved in the intimate space of the small theater. The beaming young dancers entered in purple sparkling short skirted dresses, looking as if they were ready to hit the town dancing. The movement style was consistently engaging, ranging from jazzy high passe walks on demi-point, to flirty hip circles that most definitely got audience members dancing in their seats from the get go. High kicks, followed by dazzling pirouettes, gave sentiments of both Broadway and the Rockettes, magically engulfing you in high energy entertainment. After a burst of shimmies and powerful jumps, the dancers left with a wink or kiss blown at the audience. A whirlwind of an opener!

The following pieces were just as short and sweet, and there was no doubt that these dancers kept your attention for the entire time. Having so many short pieces back to back kept the audience on the edge of their seat throughout the entire show, not knowing what to anticipate next. Following the opening piece was a total shift in energy with a solemn duet entitled Medicine. These two dancers came out in simple dresses, one in white and one in black, with the lights dimmed low. They moved with such a carmel fluidity, they almost seemed to be two of the same whole dancing in unity. They had such an intense eye contact with one another, you felt as if you were peeking in on their story of love and anguish. One partnering moment that really stood out to me was when one dancer stood behind the other in a deep second plie and pulled at her wrists right and then left, as if torn between what direction to take emotionally, yet here represented physically. They then fell into unison, turning with their knees bent and melting down to the ground. One dancer held her head as if she were trying to calm the mental chatter, and the second dancer ends the piece by wrapping around her from the side holding her close. 

Another brief and striking piece, Gravity, was danced as a solo by Heather Klobukowski. Her movement quality matched this title as she suspended graceful arabesque turns and rolled to the floor without a sound or any break in her descent. This dancer in particular connected the most with the audience, looking out with such emotion and very effectively drawing us into her world. She danced with captivating contrast, starting with a smooth circular forward movement of the leg, followed by a sharp accent with her arm, bent at the elbow making a ninety degree angle, whipped forward and stopped above her head. The audience did not know whether to expect a slash of emotion with such quick movement, or a suspension so lofty that she did indeed seem as if she was defying gravity. 

The night ended with a short and sweet dance party piece called All that Glitters. The girls fused hip hop with their contemporary jazz movement, danced to music by Dead Elvis. This piece did not have one dull moment, as the dancers continued to kick, turn, jump, and roll to the floor continuously, until finally they broke that fourth wall and entered the audience’s space. Dancers jumped up on ledges that separated rows and seats and grooved along the isles until everyone was up, dancing, and laughing. This company will definitely have my attention next time I see that they are performing! You can guarantee that you will leave the theater with a smile.