To go to the depths of the lower east east of Manhattan, where it takes an hour to get home or $50 for a cab, you better put on a show that entertains, provokes thought, and inspires me, or else I’m gonna get real mad!   Thursday night, October 8 (the night after seeing the cerebral and intense Forsythe), I trekked my tired dancing feet down to the Abrons Art Center for the opening night of The Chase Brock Experience. 

Very fortunately, I find the company to be extremely talented, littered with energetic performers, accessible choreography and sometimes fun and sometimes emotional music that the audience is able to connect with and certainly enjoy.  If there is a pop medium for modern dance, Chase Brock has found it.  His two hour concert consisting of four diverse works is like watching all the fun parts of So You Think You Can Dance, without all the annoying interviews and awful judging table comments.  The only thing missing is the adorable Cat Deely.

The show opens up with a Junk and Lies.  It is a technical festival of coupe j’etes, penchés, turns in second…  There may have even been some pointe work.  Brock wants to make sure that the audience knows his dancers choose to be there.  He wants us to know that his dancers are capable of anything, and they certainly accomplish this even if they are dressed in tuxedos and ball gowns, or shirtless and dancing in socks!  They are well trained and they are beautiful performers, and it is well exhibited in the opening piece.

Curious Episode is a short duet between two women that brings the music "Baroque and Blue" by Claude Bolling to life. While one instrument is going, the dancer physicalizes the sounds, and while the other instrument is going, the other dancer follows the lead.  If there is a canon in the music then the two girls, Ashley Eichbaur and Erica Furst, dance in canon; if the music descends the scale, they follow the music down and dance through some very creative floor work.  It is very funny, short sweet and Ashley and Erica are charming and endearing.

Slow Float is the third piece on the program:  nothing very memorable about this one, except for a curtain call for a trio in the middle of the piece, not that it isn’t warranted, it is just out of place and, unfortunately, the only thing that I took away from it.

Intermission

The closing piece, American Sadness, looks like the cast of Twilight meets The Breakfast Club.  This work is an interesting mix of pieces combined through theme, emotion, and music. American Sadness is choreographed to the album of Gabriel Kahane making for a series of vignettes playing out the story between a couple, their friends, and their relationship to one another over a period of time.  Although it seems fragmented going back and forward through time and is fun, serious, interesting, occasionally provincial, and expected, it does tells a good story and is beautifully danced.  My only issue with the particular work is that it is a little edgy -with lighting and stage pieces and a shower scene, but gets interrupted by these phrases of movement straight out of ballet class!  Uggh!  Brock sets up great moments, has original movement that is cool and keeps onlookers involved, then all of a sudden we are jarred out of the moment with tombe, pas de boure j’ete, or out of nowhere a girl on pointe boure-ing out on stage and giving you epaulment en arabesque… and I’m like WTF?  Really?  Why did you just do that?  But then, thankfully, we’re sucked right back in with some interesting chase sequence or something.

I think Chase Brock has a great vision, some creative ideas, gorgeous dancers, and I truly look forward to seeing his work as he matures.  I hope he can continue to explore his voice and fight against the urge to slip into the conventional steps that we already all know and do, that frankly in this millennium should just stay in class and off the stage.  Why?  Because… Chase Brock has the potential to do some seriously good work!

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The 28th Annual Downtown Dance Festival is presented by the Battery Dance Company, in addition to a generous package of sponsors, offering a free show and opportunities for companies of the city to strut their stuff.  Although the festival highlights 13 companies, on Sunday, August 23, I had the pleasure of witnessing only three of these, the Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Figures in Flight Dance Company, and the Chase Brock Experience.

Figures in Flight Dance Company, a young performers dance group, performs three consecutive pieces in the style of contemporary modern dance – War/Peace On Earth, Unexpected Moments, and Stranger in Moscow.  Director Susan Slotnick brags of her students’ ability to pull off modern pieces conceptualized for adults, despite being no older than your average Hannah Montana fan.  The preteens impress me with their ability to focus on such serious subject matter- they seem truly eager to present the work- but the pretentiousness of the work is a little off-putting on such fresh little youngsters.  With technique class and age, they may actually grow into the work they present.

I must applaud the daughter of Slotnick, whose choreographic debut is shown, using eye-catching, colorful umbrellas that pop to Michael Jackson’s haunting vocals. Also, Slotnick’s intention for the company – to promote peace in schools and youth, is commendable, as she offers to let the kids perform for schools via assemblies . If only the style and tone were a touch more relatable, the message might shine brighter, remembering that kids these days are busy texting and usually just waiting for the next bell to ring.

Dancers: Tara Abularrage, Liam Appelson, Ruby Bard, Lizzie Clarke, Jane Cole, Sophia Ender, Claire Factor, Madeline Freidman, Lakota Karl-Krupp, Cali Kircher, Cassidy Kristal-Cohen, Kayla Ludwig, Ryan Ludwig, Maya McClatchy, Gwen Nahnsen, Lucia O’Corozine, Sophie Rust, Isabella Vitti, River Wasser, Molly Rust Ayako Shapiro, Sophia Ender, Elianah Slotnick

The Rebecca Kelly Ballet presents a lovely duo featuring two of the dancers, Sean Scantlebury and Robin Cantrell, who are seen several times as part of the Battery Dance Company.  The tiny Cantrell, with her sleek lines, Ivory soap skin and pixie haircut, contrasts well with the tall, dark musculature of Scantlebury.  Kelly’s choreography, infused with beautiful lifts pasted against blue skies and leafy greens, is a true vision to be seen.

The final company I experienced, and I do say experience… is the Chase Brock… Experience.  Brock’s website calls himself out on the arrogance of calling his company an "experience," but I must confirm that he knows how to hit the dance out of the park and is totally credible in his claims. Brock’s first piece, Curious Episode, shoots a breath of fresh air over the audience as Assistant Artistic Director, Ashley Eichbauer, and company member, Erica Furst, frolic about the stage in a playful duo, their quirky personalities competing with their not overly forceful display of technique for a splendid "encounter".

Brock’s Seeing Stars leaves pretentious at the door as all six dancers stumble about onstage, drunkenly leaning on each other, smiling those embarrassingly carefree smiles, and once again, breathing a playful energy over the crowd.  Brock basically slams home the point that serious attitudes don’t necessarily define serious art.  In essence, the silly joy of flying through space and capturing an audience (while maintaining beautiful technique and apparent training) IS essentially a "serious" art.

CBE saves its best for last with a Laura Nyro tribute, Slow Float. The absolutely gorgeous 70s-styled late Nyro gives us an acquired taste of jazz mixed with slow blues, gospel, show tunes, and rock.  Brock showcases her music beautifully by costuming the ladies in Bohemian style sundresses – hair flowing in the wind and the guys looking casual… eventually shirtless.  The backdrop of sun, clouds, and flourishing trees only add bonus points to what is already a hit. The movement is human, hitting on emotions rather than shoving technique to the forefront… despite the technique being evident.  As I watch,  I overhear an elderly man in the audience admitting that the piece brings tears to his eyes.  Brock is the perfect blend of professionalism and relate-ability.  Dancers Kendrick D. Carter, Nathan Duszny, Ashley Eichbauer, Erica Furst, Neil O’Brien, Emily Oldak, Connor Kilian Weigand, and Micki Weiner brings the piece to life in a series of different songs, each showcasing different dancers and various personalities.  Kudos!

The Downtown Dance Festival is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday evening.  Hopefully, the festival will be back next year with even more greatly appreciated contributions from its sponsors and growing community participation. Thank you to the Battery Dance Company for this great opportunity to share and witness our favorite art in some beautiful nature.

Photography of Rebecca Kelly Ballet by Todd Bisonette

iDANZ Critix Corner
Official Dance Review by  Sheena DiMatteo
Performance:  Downtown Dance Festival, NYC 
Choreographers: Susan Slotnick, Elianah Slotnick, Rebecca Kelly, Chase Brock
Performance Date:  August 23, 2009, 1-4 PM
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