BWW Reviews: John J. Zullo Dance - Raw Movement, Innovative and Imaginative

Dance enthusiasts look for innovation and a style that delivers something new to the art. In their weekend performances at Danspace Project at the St. Mark's Church, John J. Zullo Dance/Raw Movement did just that with unique choreographies and passionate performers. With an extraordinary selection of music, and the perfect complement of lighting, costuming, and set décor, the program delivered well conceived themes with deliberate intensity.

The evening opened with ALL what THIS do HAS you HAPPENED see ? BEFORE. The company of six explored perception, perspective and memory as audience members were invited to watch the work from any side of the open floor and also from within. The intimate dance space at St. Mark's Church allowed audience members to feel wholly connected to the dance.

The second half of the program began with this Exquisite diversion/mysterious Skin which used the text of Scott Heim's novel "Mysterious Skin" as a compass for the work. This dark piece was a setting for trauma and denial when memory's piercing effects are not directly recalled. The piece had a raw openness and the dancers were wholly absorbed in the theme.

The evening closed with project Xiii which is based on one 60 second phrase of movement with 12 solo variations featuring dancers from Raw Movement and the colleagues and choreographers John J. Zullo has worked with for the past 20 years. Musical selections were chosen by each artist dancing in the project Xiii. Zullo himself performed, and each dancer's individuality fascinated the audience making it an excellent piece to close the performance.

John J. Zullo Dance/Raw Movement is exploring ideas from our cultural landscape that are being transformed into works that are expressive, imaginative and kinetic. The company strives to create and share these dances in the hope of eliciting an emotional response to a movement-based experience. Their 2013 Season at Danspace Project at St. Marks Church gave the audience reason to admire this innovative company.