The Joyce Theater, New York, NY.
Could 7, 2024.
The Gibney Firm carried out a six-day season on the Joyce Theater in early Could. This well-funded, reinvented, repertory firm confirmed 4 works from three choreographers: Twyla Tharp, Yue Yin, and Jermaine Spivey & Spenser Theberge. In operation since 1991, the corporate perviously primarily showcased choreography by Gina Gibney, however in early 2020 (due to a big money donation), underwent a drastic reimagining and was reborn as a strict repertory firm.
This system opened with Twyla Tharp’s Bach Duet, with a reside five-person musical accompaniment. At solely six minutes lengthy, the inclusion of the musicians clearly confirmed how correct funding elevates dance. Sharing the stage with the 2 dancers, the outcome was a richer efficiency with the musicians reside verses a recording. The dancers executed the work effectively, however when in comparison with movies of the unique, one can inform how a lot fashionable affect made its means into the efficiency. It was clear that within the 50 years that handed because the authentic work premiered, fashionable/modern dance has developed a better sense of readability and depth of weight.
One good flip deserves one other, as a second Tharp piece follows the primary. The Fugue, choreographed in 1970, is an experiment in a 20-count theme with 20 variations. For 3 dancers, every represents musical registers of soprano, alto and bass. Nonetheless, there isn’t any musical accompaniment past the rhythm of the dancers’ toes on the stage, amplified by each their footwear and audio choose ups. Like Bach Duet, it’s danced with a 2024 tone, as all the pieces have to be by the very nature of evolution, however the essence of the work dominated the efficiency. One may nearly see the mathematical construction, and most definitely really feel its natural logic.
A Measurable Existence by Yue Yin got here subsequent and transported the viewers to a fluid world of stress and launch, each choreographically and with the connection between the 2 dancers onstage. The motion, fluid however deeply intentional and highly effective, grew to become trancelike. The lights have been daring, nearly as if a 3rd character and created a panorama that echoed the highly effective qualities of the motion.
Lastly, we have now Stays, by Jermaine Spivey & Spencer Theberge, a 30-minute work primarily based in improvisation. The dancers used vocalizations and known as out numbers which indicated a sure course of choreography, theoretically permitting for the work for be totally different every time it was carried out. Fascinating to contemplate, the repetitive phrases the dancers spoke grew to become grating over time, though the motion outcome was gratifying.
General, the artists in Gibney Firm are expert and danced effectively. A up to date repertory firm is much less widespread nowadays, and it’s good to see a program with a number of choreographers represented. Regardless of the reimagining through the years, the corporate stays apt at bringing to life the works earlier than them, and with an authenticity that fosters a pleasing viewers expertise.
By Emily Sarkissian of Dance Informa.
