Donald Byrd arrives on the stage in a raincoat. He strikes slowly throughout the area as a recording of himself speaking performs by means of the audio system. He states, “I am still sailing, still searching.” Behind him is a fabric backdrop with the phrases “Sea of Memories” on the high. It incorporates small drawings of various locations resembling a seaside and a university, overlaid on an ocean. A dancer arrives on stage and removes the raincoat, changing it with a blazer. Byrd takes a seat on the entrance of the viewers behind a microphone.
This scene opens Localities/An Odyssey, pt. 1, the newest premiere of Byrd’s work on Spectrum Dance Theater. Byrd notes in this system that this work is “a response, primarily danced to sections of my unpublished memoir.” The work references locations the place Byrd has lived or hung out, which he views as having formed him and his creative work. He writes that “There is no narrative in the dances. The impulse was to do a ‘dance concert’ using the memoir as inspiration.” Localities/An Odyssey, pt. 1 options the complete solid of firm artists, together with Simon Adler, Aimee Brotton, Cody Krause, Katarina Lee, Isabella Smith, Serene Wong, and Jane Mumford (née Cracovaner, previously of Whim W’him). Associate Artist marco farroni leonardo can be featured within the final scene.
The first a part of the work explores Byrd’s time in Boston at Tufts University. He reminisces on the sensation of wanting to attach, and finds solace within the desk of dance theater college students that may collect at meals. The choreography on this part is clear minimize with sharp strains and pointed toes. Front perspective battements change into a standard reference level. Occasionally a fifth place makes an look. Aimee Brotten shows power and management whereas carried the wrong way up in a cut up. Brotten later completes a number of jumps with swift buoyancy. Cody Krause returns to the choreographic staple of an perspective flip accompanied by serve-the-platter arms. The dancers transfer by means of this part with an intentional sense of physique placement and motion route.
Next, issues actually start to select up. The solid reenters in pink leotards and shorts with gold buttons down the entrance, enjoying to the theme of Byrd’s expertise in drum strains. The choreography is faster, because the dancers bounce and land in a again perspective earlier than playfully tilting their heads away from the viewers. The drumming soundtrack of this part builds in momentum, mirroring crescendos of the dance. Crisp jeté after crisp jeté graces the stage. In explicit, Serene Wong flies off the bottom with knowledgeable ease. In an explosive solo, she leaps with a straight entrance leg, permitting her arms to circle her up into the air, down, then again up into the air shortly after. Simon Adler slyly turns a entrance perspective right into a wildly versatile leg maintain, then calmly returns to an perspective. Katarina Lee completes an excellent sluggish penché. The effortlessness of the dancers on this part is deeply admirable.
The subsequent part displays on a time of Byrd’s life that handled habit and despair. Byrd says, “The loneliness was not cinematic, it was cavernous.” Jane Mumford traverses the area with a subdued expression of curiosity, like she’s trying to find one thing. The different solid members type a clump, wandering the stage in sluggish movement whereas Mumford is left swaying within the nook. Mumford enters a dynamic solo, departing from the rhythms we’ve seen on stage to this point. Her arms break over her brow and she or he collapses to the ground. Her fingers run alongside the marley in the direction of the viewers. She shuffles ahead on her knees, her arms delicately holding her shoulders. She bursts from the ground with asymmetrical legs and falls again down.
Mumford’s expert dynamics and vary of motion high quality make this solo a standout second of the work. The group motion enhances Mumford, as they make their means across the stage in ominous sluggish movement. Mumford pouring her complete coronary heart out, the others wading by means of a distinct ambiance. In a satisfying choreographic development, the complete solid then takes on elements of Mumford’s solo, recognizable at first from the distinct replication of fingers working alongside the bottom. These revamped solo moments are layered within the group clump. Sometimes the ground is changed with the physique of one other dancer. Mumford’s battle turns into the battle of the group.
Upbeat rhythms return within the final part, which displays on Byrd’s time in Los Angeles. “We floated on longing,” says Byrd, reminiscing on dreaming in regards to the future. In a nod to the ocean, dancers head to toe in blue and inexperienced chug with inverted swooping arms and aspect physique dips. Katarina Lee performs a collection of tremendous quick chaînes turns with precision. Dancers mimic water currents with touring prances. The stamina of the dancers is spectacular as they keep their enthusiasm and accuracy all through this final part.
Localities/An Odyssey, pt. 1 is an thrilling watch. Byrd’s spoken preambles are poetic, and so they give the viewers one thing to chew on though the motion isn’t meant to be narrative. The choreography actually highlights the talents of the performers. The dancers are pretty new, with the vast majority of firm members of their first or second season. There are fewer complete dancers than Spectrum has had prior to now, however the solid instructions the viewers and dances collectively cohesively. It’s so fascinating to look at them nail every transfer for 2 hours whereas nonetheless sustaining an brisk stage presence! Their expertise is palpable.
Spectrum Dance Theater’s Localities/An Odyssey, pt. 1 runs May 14 – May 18, 2025 on the Tricia Stromberg Studio Theater. For extra data, go to www.spectrumdance.org