The Knox Student

La Noche: Calizo Fusion Flamenco

Choreographer: Guest artist Jeremy Lindberg

Inspired during the flamenco workshop earlier this year, the performance of this piece was a highlight of the show. Clad in sultry traditional costume, these dancers kept perfect rhythm while challenging each other seductively. The use of fans throughout the show dazzled the audience and heightened the tension in the piece.

Cotillion

Choreographer: Guest artist Jeremy Lindberg

The dancers beautifully cascaded through this number with conventional ballroom-esque steps and occasion-appropriate costumes. The women in this piece moved gracefully around the space, creating aesthetically pleasing portraits during the beginning and ending poses. They were in sync with each other, a difficult accomplishment in such a lyrical piece. The talent in this piece was impressive.

Inevitable

Choreographer: Senior

Cassidy Bires

Throughout this piece, the dancers maintained excellent control of their bodies and muscular range. The dancers, sometimes in a group and sometimes breaking away, provoked images of outcasts and intense emotions. The dancers were strong in this high-intensity piece and it is obvious they are very skilled individuals.

Tactic

Choreographer: Senior Karin Rudd

As an audience favorite, this piece using Tic Tacs as an item of fascination for the dancers was perfectly executed. We can see their vice explode as they interact with each other, stealing the Tic Tacs from each other and enjoying the noise the Tic Tacs made when the container was shook. The choreography was impressive but the facial expressions of the dancers made this piece nearly perfect.

Plastic

Choreographers: Professor of dance Kathleen Ridlon, Guest Jennifer Nass

This piece used many plastic bags to make an interesting point about consumer culture. The dancers first respected the wall of plastic on the stage but then began spreading it around the space before a fashionista entered with plastic accessories to convert the dancers into chic models. While entertaining and insightful, this dance also went on a bit long.

Boundaries

Choreographer: Professor of dance Kathleen Ridlon

Performed by only four dancers, this number tackled the push and pull of intimate relationships by using tape on the stage as a pathway the dancers tenuously balanced on. At times, they collapsed beautifully into each other’s arms. As the two couples parted and only one member of each couple remained, the tedium of relationships became apparent. The dancers left on stage (of the same sex) followed the same steps of the first couple. This was a very powerful piece.

Time Gone

Choreographer: Professor of dance Jennifer Smith

Presentation for this piece was incredibly cohesive as the dancers espoused beautifully intricate choreography to the speeches echoing from different speakers across the room. As the voices in the recordings talked about time and space as it relates to the human experience, the dancers skillfully stretched and turned across the stage.

Dives and Lazarus

Choreographer: Professor of dance Kathleen Ridlon

This dance was a great way to start the show. The dancers moved about the stage purposefully, missing connections with one another yet desperately needing each other. Music for this piece (The Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus) enhanced the mood of isolation. All these elements working together made the presentation very good. However, it felt as though this piece went on too long without changing its pace or heightening the intensity.