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Ella Bode

Mrs. Sluder

Honors Ballet Proficient

25 May 2017

Outside Dance Critique

For my second semester Outside Dance Critique, I had the privilege of seeing Weaver Academy

for Performing and Visual Arts Dance Department's Choreography Concert. Overall, I thought the

show was exceptional, with innovative choreography and talented dancers. In total, there were 6 pieces

to enjoy. Each piece contrasted very much, yet at the same time they complemented each other very

well. I loved the Choreography Concert, and many of the other audience members did as well.

The Choice, choreographed by Alexis Stanley, was a piece about conforming to society, or

being who others want you to be. The lead dancer was wearing a red dress, while the other dancers

were wearing black dresses. In the pivotal point of the dance, where the lead dancer puts on a black

dress, the dancers' emotions were portrayed perfectly. Whenever dancing together, it was difficult to

comprehend whether or not the dancers were doing a ripple, or if their timing was off. When preparing

for jumps the dancers would seldom point their feet. My grandmother accompanied me to the

performance, and she as a non-dancer loved this piece because she really felt the story. I believe that

the choreographer's intent was to portray that you do not have to be who everyone wants you to, and

the audience interpreted it in the same manner. This piece reminded me of a piece my studio did a

couple of years ago, Wicked Games. In this piece a lead dancer tried to be apart from the rest of the

ensemble throughout the dance.

The path we have taken and the path we will take, choreographed by Sophie Teachout, was by

far my favorite piece. The way Sophie chose to choreograph, very unconventional at times, along with

her acoustic guitar music, culminated to a beautiful, original piece. The dancers worked very
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cohesively together, which added even more to the effect. However, at times the arms of the dancers

would not lengthen all the way, or their feet would not point in preparations. The choreographer's intent

was to show that the present and future are very important and that we should always be prepared for

them. In my opinion, I saw that there are always two sides to a situation, and which side you choose

depends on your knowledge and morals. The lighting for The path we have taken and the path we will

take, added so much to the dance. It was a green backdrop, which just showed us the dancers'

silhouettes, and it was absolutely breathtaking. This piece reminded me of Robert Frost's poem, The

Road Not Taken. In this poem, someone is reminiscing about how they took the road that most people

overlooked, and how it has made all the difference in their life.

Choreographed by Katie Bates, Undone, was yet another exceptional piece in The

Choreography Concert. Katie's music was composed by Hans Zimmer, and was in a sense very epic.

My favorite part of this dance was the hair, which they used as a prop in the beginning of the piece. The

hair started in a bun, and was pulled out so that it remained down. The dancers had endless energy in

this piece, and their lines in their extensions were beautiful. However, I was very confused when they

all laid on the floor and looked like they were dead, but then came back to life. It did not seem to fit

into the concept of the piece to me. My perception of the meaning was that letting go is necessary for

life, even when in stressful situations like competition. Katie Bate's intent might have been to showcase

the nature of competition, and how ruthless it can be. Undone reminded me of the competition that is

ever-present in our society. This competition is present in brands such as Target and WalMart, and

people such as Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian.

In final analysis, Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts Dance Department's

Choreography Concert was anything short of exceptional, I would see it again in a heartbeat. All of the

choreographers' works were beautifully done, and I enjoyed the meanings of each piece as well. I look

forward to seeing other performances from the Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts Dance
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Department.