On the evening of January 9, 2026, I arrived at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble on their first weekend of performances for Dance at The Odyssey. Premiering this evening was Soundbody, created and performed by the collaborative duo of Teresa Toogie Barcelo and Joe Berry. What started in collaboration as a duet, has transformed into a ‘telepathic trio,’ as described by Toogie as she performed at 16 weeks pregnant.
Dance at the Odyssey – Teresa Toogie Barcelo and Joe Berry in SOUNDBODY – Photo by Mimi Haddon.
A moss covered circular platform is placed center downstage and as the lights come up, Toogie is seated, draped in scarves, and the platform begins to slowly rotate around. Soundbody is a live conversation between the sonic score and embodied performance. Berry creates the sound landscape in real time and as he does so, Toogie responds with a physical sincerity. There is a clear dialogue happening between the artists as they respond to one another, and it is clear that the two have been collaborators for quite some time.
The costume design by Mimi Haddon felt of importance to the arc of the work. As if shedding skin, Toogie slowly undrapes herself, removing each layer of clothing over an extended period of time. Each layer was poignant, my favorite being a green bodysuit which aligned with a rise in tempo and movement. The sound and body became one as Toogie articulated her spine in conjunction with Berry’s dynamic beat. The intricate isolations and change in tempo was much appreciated after the quite lengthy beginning of slow motion movement.
Dance at the Odyssey – Teresa Toogie Barcelo in SOUNDBODY – Photo by Mimi Haddon.
Soundbody was a trance like, and almost meditative piece to experience. The sonic score and movement reflected a deep listening to one another, and oneself. The work seemed as if I was getting an inside view to an intimate, personal experience. An experience that I assumed was a reflection of the intimacy that is being pregnant. The three performers spun into a shared consciousness as they responded to one another in real time, spinning and shedding the layers of what once was.
Dance at the Odyssey features new work and is a wonderful way to experience dance in Los Angeles. The festival continues until February 15, 2025 with new choreographers each weekend. It was a pleasure to be a witness to their first weekend featuring the surreal and trance-like performance of Soundbody.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble website.
Written by Rebecca Lee for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Dance at the Odyssey – Teresa Toogie Barcelo and Joe Berry in SOUNDBODY – Photo by Mimi Haddon.
