Dynamic Peromance by LehrerDance
01/10/09 22:06
Dynamic performance by LehrerDance in Norfolk, VA
By BalletCenter Blog | March 17, 2009
Rafael Delgado
This past March 5th, 2009, I had the opportunity to watch a dynamic performance by an innovative contemporary dance company from Buffalo, NY. The performance was part of the 8th Regional Dance Festival in Norfolk, VA and was hosted by the Governor's School for the Arts. The name of the company is Lehrer Dance under the direction of Jon Lehrer.
This gravity defying group of seven dancers and a single choreographer offers a jazz/modern/gymnastics/break-dancing/circus/capoeira unique style of movement that is not flashy as you may expect, but breathtaking. The company describes it as "Organically Athletic"; I describe it as "Fun to Watch!”
Years ago, I had the opportunity to work and share as dancers with Jon Lehrer, at that time his comedic skills were already well developed. So, I was not surprised to see as the opening of the program "Loose Canon", a light dance piece with impeccable comedic timing, set to the all too familiar Pachelbel's Canon in D Major.
"Loose Canon" central figure was performed by Jennifer Huffman, a petite dancer with beautifully pointed feet, who rapidly became my favorite performer that evening. During this piece, she was strong and funny. Later in the evening, during cirque-de-soleil-ish "Morphic Slip", Ms. Huffman displayed incredible athleticism and wonderful lifting skills while she was partnered by Theodore Krzykowski, a young man of short stature but gigantic stage presence.
We were given an exceptional opportunity to follow Dance Magazine's advice to watch Marideth Wanat perform in "The Way Within", a solo full of lyricism and contolled precision. Ms. Wanat was honored as one of the "25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine in 2009.
The commanding Immanuel Naylor, together with Mr. Krzykowski, danced in the primal duet "Instict". We were once again amazed by Jennifer Huffman, this time in "La Fuite" (The Escape), where she danced with Kristen Stein. They were delicate and vulnerable, then strong and virile, yet androgynous in the portrayal of, perhaps, mermaids - as hinted in the program notes by a short poem by Jannet Corneto.
As a finale the company performed "A Ritual Dynamic", a street dance meets modern technique, full company piece that made the audience jump to their feet in thunderous approval.
By BalletCenter Blog | March 17, 2009
Rafael Delgado
This past March 5th, 2009, I had the opportunity to watch a dynamic performance by an innovative contemporary dance company from Buffalo, NY. The performance was part of the 8th Regional Dance Festival in Norfolk, VA and was hosted by the Governor's School for the Arts. The name of the company is Lehrer Dance under the direction of Jon Lehrer.
This gravity defying group of seven dancers and a single choreographer offers a jazz/modern/gymnastics/break-dancing/circus/capoeira unique style of movement that is not flashy as you may expect, but breathtaking. The company describes it as "Organically Athletic"; I describe it as "Fun to Watch!”
Years ago, I had the opportunity to work and share as dancers with Jon Lehrer, at that time his comedic skills were already well developed. So, I was not surprised to see as the opening of the program "Loose Canon", a light dance piece with impeccable comedic timing, set to the all too familiar Pachelbel's Canon in D Major.
"Loose Canon" central figure was performed by Jennifer Huffman, a petite dancer with beautifully pointed feet, who rapidly became my favorite performer that evening. During this piece, she was strong and funny. Later in the evening, during cirque-de-soleil-ish "Morphic Slip", Ms. Huffman displayed incredible athleticism and wonderful lifting skills while she was partnered by Theodore Krzykowski, a young man of short stature but gigantic stage presence.
We were given an exceptional opportunity to follow Dance Magazine's advice to watch Marideth Wanat perform in "The Way Within", a solo full of lyricism and contolled precision. Ms. Wanat was honored as one of the "25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine in 2009.
The commanding Immanuel Naylor, together with Mr. Krzykowski, danced in the primal duet "Instict". We were once again amazed by Jennifer Huffman, this time in "La Fuite" (The Escape), where she danced with Kristen Stein. They were delicate and vulnerable, then strong and virile, yet androgynous in the portrayal of, perhaps, mermaids - as hinted in the program notes by a short poem by Jannet Corneto.
As a finale the company performed "A Ritual Dynamic", a street dance meets modern technique, full company piece that made the audience jump to their feet in thunderous approval.