BWW Reviews: Dance Theatre of Tennessee's ASPECTS OF LOVE

In an exhilarating and exciting journey that was at once joyful and provocative, dazzling and erotic, the artists of Dance Theatre of Tennessee took audiences through all the differing Aspects of Love with the company's latest series - a late-arriving Valentine for lovers of the dance. Staged artfully and confidently, DTT's latest offerings demonstrate beautifully how far the company has come during its short history, firmly and exuberantly claiming its place among the most daring companies to be found.

Featuring a wide range of offerings - and including guest appearances by the artists of the Murfreesboro-based Shelter Repertory Company of modern dancers and Nashville's own Found Movement Group, which is the city's only company devoted to modern dance - audience members expecting a leisurely, lovely and bucolic two hours of dance may have been shocked to see such a diversity of talent and artistic vision on the stage at The Harpeth Hall School during the company's February 19-20 stand.

Certainly, the highlight of the program was the aptly named Aspects of Love, choreographed by the company's own BrIan Williamson, set to the music of pop crooner Michael Buble. Featuring DTT's talented roster of dancers, as well as members of its Junior and Youth Ensemble, Williamson's piece was a colorful, tuneful ode to love and romance, performed with absolute joy by the company's dancers.

DTT's women were, as expected, front and center throughout Aspects of Love, with particularly noteworthy performances from the gorgeous trio of Jennifer Drake, Marian Faustino and Ea Marie Torrado, whose skills were showcased to perfection through Williamson's completely theatrical choreography. Conversely, the company's men - Jayson Pescasio, Mykl Rodriguez, Guadalupe Medina and Casey Myrick - were featured prominently as well. Of particular note was the amazingly versatile Pescasio's splendid pairing with the company's women in the showy and entertaining "Save the Last Dance for Me."And perhaps I've seen no moment more joyous and invigorating as the performance of the delightful Junior and Youth ensemble members during their featured movement in the piece.

Williamson's unerring eye is focused sharply on each member of the company's individual strengths, presenting a work that is completely accessible - and a whole lot of fun!

Contrasting the lighter nature of Aspects of Love was the provocative and altogether stunning work that closed out the first half of the program: Ea Marie Torrado's expressive Two of You featuring the laudable work of Drake, Faustino, Williamson and Pescasio. As the lights came up onstage, focused tightly on Drake, Williamson and Faustino in a downstage tableau that can only be interpreted as a modern American family, your attention shifts to the shadowy figure of Pescasio upstage.

As Torrado's story unfolds before you, you see the reality behind the picture-perfect family: The father is obviously engaged in a torrid love affair with a young man, danced so expressively by Pescasio. Meanwhile, Drake (as the wife and mother of the piece) engages in her own startlingly frank secret life with Faustino (who, at first, you assume is her daughter, but as the plot unfolds, you are uncertain about the relationship being dissected so intimately onstage).

Williamson and Pescasio perform a torridly homoerotic pas de deux that is stunning in its deliberate tone and the very courage of both the gifted choreographer and her exceptional dancers to bring this story to the stage. Bravo!

Applause is due lighting designer Richard Davis for his outstanding work throughout the entire performance, but the true artistry of his design is perhaps most apparent in Two of You.

The other offerings in Act One included the opening performance of Paquita Grand Pas Classique, which shows that while DTT's strength may lie in the company's artistic interpretations of more contemporary works, they can also deliver a more classic repertoire with style and panache. Featuring the choreography of company founder and artistic director Christopher Mohnani, based on the original work of Petipa and set to the music of Minkus, Paquita is competently performed - if perhaps feeling a bit uninspired - with Drake and Williamson again the stars of the piece.

Drake's exquisite line and extension is showcased to perfection in the piece, coupled with Williamson's strong partnering skills. Drake's beautifully expressive face allows her audience to experience her joie de vivre, while the handsome and dashing Williamson presents his impressive and athletic skills free of pretension.

Gabby Gambino, featured in the first variation, and the luminous Torrado's performance of the second variation, are also worthy of note for their complete commitment.

DTT company members Amanda Whites, Guadalupe Medina and Lisa Schmidt were completely charming and wonderfully engaging in "Nuts," a contemporary piece set to "Beatles Go Baroque" from Peter Preiner and His Chamber Orchestra. Staged by Mohnani, after the original choreography of R. Culalic, the smart and sprightly work exuded humor, exemplified by the spirited dancing of the trio who presented a winning work despite a minor misstep that resulted in an easily recovered fall.

Performed to Bach's Cello Suite in D Minor, Shelter Repertory Company dancer Erin Rehberg vibrantly performed Kim Neal Nofsinger's Exode-Section IV.

Performing Torn, which featured the choreography of Stacie M. Flood-Popp and set to music by Rachel Yamagata, the dancers of Found Movement Group presented a compelling picture of love and loss.

- Aspects of Love. The Winter Series from Dance Theatre of Tennessee. Presented at The Harpeth Hall School, February 19 and 20. For further information about the company, visit the website at www.dancetheatretn.org.

Pictured: BrIan Williamson, Dance Theatre of Tennessee's resident choreographer

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