Eisenhower Dance came to the Columbia Theatre and performed a series of six dances set to music from four different composers. The performances were separated by two to three minute intervals, which allowed the dancers to change costumes and prepare for the next dance sequence.
Regina Pergola/The Lion’s Roar
Now in its 26th season, the Eisenhower Dance group performed six separate dances set to four different composers’ music at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts. Executive Director of the Columbia Theatre Roy Blackwood aspired to have the Eisenhower Dance make the Columbia Theatre a stop on their tour for the past five years and finally succeeded.
“The first year I went to APAP in New York I saw them,” said Blackwood. “I went to their showcases, and I just fell in love with what they’re doing.”
The Eisenhower Dance used lights, costumes and dance to represent different kinds of contemporary music throughout their performance.
“I think their choreography is wonderful,” said Blackwood. “There is a syntax to the choreography that creates a voice that moves through that song, only kinesthetic. I just think it’s fabulous the way they move one form to another.”
Blackwood believes that Eisenhower Dance is unique in their form and dances even though they are part of an ambiguous genre.
“There are a lot of contemporary dance groups out there but there aren’t very many that do innovative things that are beautiful to watch,” said Blackwood. “I think this really is.”
The music was varied throughout the different dances.
“I love the way they are using contemporary music with contemporary dance because there is a parallelism there that works,” said Blackwood. “They speak to each other beautifully, but the music doesn’t overpower. I think that’s a nice balance to get, and I lay that on the choreographer. I think she’s brilliant, and she does wonderful work.”
Blackwood expressed that he aimed to have memorable performances at the Columbia Theatre, and despite low attendance, Eisenhower Dance fulfilled his ambitions.
“I’m always disappointed to not have a full house, but these people that are here tonight won’t forget this,” said Blackwood. “That’s what I love.”
Denise Tullier-Holly, a supervisor at the Office of Student Teaching was asked to volunteer as a flashlight holder in the performance entitled “Light Play.”
“I thought it was extraordinary,” said Tullier-Holly. “I was asked to be a volunteer, and I was just in that last piece. To see them right after they had finished a piece, and they’re all grabbing their next costume and getting set and sweating buckets,but so in tuned, they’re very wonderful.”
Jordan Wild, an audience member felt that the technology blended well with the dances without overpowering them. She also believed that the performances had lightheartedness to them.
“I thought it was just joyful, funny, great sense of humor and great use of the space,” said Wild. “It’s just unusual. I was really happy to hear some new ways of using some of the pieces that I’m familiar with.”
The ending performance for the Eisenhower Dance at the Columbia Theatre was titled “Bubbles.”
Regina Pergola /The Lion’s Roar