CENTER FOR THE ARTS — On Friday, Feb. 28 the Department of Theatre and Dance opened their annual faculty dance concert in Rodey Theatre at the University of New Mexico. This year the concert, entitled "Meta/Physical," held space for six choreographic works that showcase the vast capabilities of present-day dance in the theatre setting.
"The show is very diverse," Donna Jewell, the artistic director of "Meta/Physical" said. "I really believe that the student(s) ... should be exposed to different ways of making work. (The dance faculty) have hard discussions about what we value on the stage and what we value in process."
"Meta/Physical" is generous in its offering.
The first movement, called "Suite 'Pre-Flamenca,'" was choreographed by guest artist Daniel Doña in 2017 and explores Spanish dance historically. Six dancers sweep through the stage as if they were in the 18th century royal courts of Spain and meet again with the entire flamenco ensemble in dark space. They walk with their palms placed together, arms outstretched through beaming vertical light, as they enter into a darker reality. The intensity deepens as the ensemble responds to the rhythmic calls of Carlos Menchaca, of Yjastros. The movement finishes in an avant-garde mystery. The audience rustles in excitement as the first curtain closes.
"We take risks," Jewell said. "There should be at least one piece where people should be questioning what they're watching."
The curtain rises and all expectations of "normal" dance for the theatre are broken. Gray lights illuminate the stage and the audience, but "where are the dancers"' and "why are they not dancing" whispers a couple seated in the row below. "12:46 or it's the end of the world" explores the chaos and messiness of the ongoing investigation of choreographer Miguel Gutierrez on how to make a dance in the midst of "this dystopian apocalypse we're all living through."
"Expect the unexpected," sophomore ensemble dancer Allyssa Trujillo said. "The first thing (Gutierrez) said when he came into the studio was, 'Instant performance! Okay, go!' and we just had to dance for him ... His whole thing was to defy the normalized process of dance (and) approach chaos as a tool and embrace change within our improvisations."
Marisol Encinias, the flamenco rehearsal director of "Meta/Physical," carefully curated the visiting line of guest artists based on the student body needs. In 2019, she brought in — for the second time — bailaora "La Popi" from Madrid, Spain. During her 11-week residency, La Popi exposed the dance department to new forms of expressing emotion through performance.
"When an artist brings in their whole selves, it makes the experience life changing for everyone," said graduating dancer Samantha Martinez. "(La) Popi really changed things for all of us. She encouraged us to encourage each other. She did a good job of making us feel like a team."
"Meta/Physical" next creates a place to recognize the activism of the artistic community. Choreographer Jacqueline Garcia offers her work "in the muddy bank ((where we lay))" to bring awareness to the border crisis.
According to NPR's Bill Chappell, "in the most recent fiscal year, there have been 283 deaths along the U.S. southern border — with nearly 100 of those deaths in the Rio Grande Valley, according to Border Patrol."
On stage, dancers Rebecca Huppenthal, Miranda Marselle, Julianna Massa, Madrone Matysiak and Trujillo shape this underwater sanctuary as they provide passage to all those who have perished in desperation.
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"(The faculty) feel that the faculty dance concert can not only hopefully be an entertaining experience for an audience but a sharing experience to the audience of where dance is now in the world and what kind of things are happening on the stage," Jewell said.
Dancer Shannon Paralles started the last act with her back to the audience. Her body is squirming inside her red jumpsuit. Deep, repetitive bass music pours from the speakers. Again we meet dancer Trujillo, but this time she's posed upstage as a DJ. I acknowledge the sustained grime that is swelling in my stomach. I feel like I'm moving in slow motion in an underground warehouse, where the pipes are exposed on the low ceilings and the humidity of the dripping leaks is mixed with sweat from the over-populated dance floor.
Choreographer Amanda Hamp shattered my expectations of choreography for the theatre. I was thoroughly confused when Athena Dunleavy entered the stage wearing a snowsuit with a fur hood. Snow began falling on the stage along with the acoustic aesthetic of music. Trujillo was using an old projector as a means to make her own light design effects.
The showcase ends, and I'm left questioning all of my assumptions of what dance is. Maybe to dance is to be vulnerable, to feel, to carefully deconstruct tradition and wildly create new pathways. The generosity of these creators is tenfold and is experienced throughout the evening-length show.
"We're always pushing up against this boundary of what is performance in a theatre setting," Jewell said. "It's about the challenging of assumptions. (It) feels important to me."
"Meta/Physical" will be presented on March 7 at 7:30 p.m. and March 8 at 2 p.m. in Rodey Theatre at the Center for the Arts on UNM's main campus.
Kara Olguin is a culture reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @kara_olguin
