On a balmy July evening, the cool salt air combined with a flaming sunset, was the scene of an idyllic evening of Americana Music and Dance at Marina Del Rey’s Burton Chase Park on July 25, 2019.

Frank Fetta, the spirited Conductor and Artistic Director of Marina del Rey Symphony introduced the evening of Copland, Gershwin, Safan and, as Maestro Fetta reiterated, Igor Stravinsky, who adopted America as his home in 1939.  A special treat was the addition of dance, by Nancy Dobbs Owen, Choreographer, who joined Fetta after their 2018 Leonard Bernstein success.  Dobbs Owen and her lovely young dancers enlivened two of the pieces, the haunting Craig Safan’s Sirens, from “Odysseys” along with Gershwin’s jaunty American in Paris Suite.

The evening began with the glorious Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite which evoked the images of early Russian Folk Tales, Ballet Russes and the remembrance of elegant Maria Tallchief, (Balanchine’s New York City Ballet).  Firebird opened this evening of quintessential music of dance.

Then onto the more remote music of Craig Safan.  The lovely voices of Emily Dyer and Bass-Baritone Jóhann Schram Reed embellished the soulful piece.  The sprightly dancers graced the Marley stage in front of the orchestra with their lyrical, effervescent and youthful energy.  Dobbs Owen used the full stage to open the piece with explosive choreography, bodies-to-body lifts, with fugues, theme and variations, and question and answer structures.  In their rich teal and grey, the dancers depicted the seafaring tale of Odysseus, and the warning of the beautiful but deadly Siren’s bewitching call.  The costumes so aptly designed by Dobbs Owen and Sylvie Gosse hinted at the water-like essence.

Each segment of the piece was interactive and designed to highlight the main couple.  The lead Siren was danced by diminutive Kate Coleman, and Odysseus by the powerful Michael Tomlin III, with his vigorous elevation and impressive leaps.  However, as the piece advanced, the interpretation seemed a bit pushed and technically uneven.  Coleman herself appeared challenged and, at times, unsupported by unique and, what appeared to be, complex lifts.  The corps with Darby Epperson, Sarah Gomez, Eryn Orsburn, Jacob Byrd, JM Rodriguez, and Spencer Ramirez, danced well, in support of their leads with nice clean technique, partnering and formations.   The climb and coming together of Odysseus and Lead Siren completed the re-interpretation of the feckless warnings and became the full pinnacle of the piece with an unsteady kiss before the fall back into the arms of the company and the dramatic ending.

Cast of "Sirens" - Choreography by Nancy Dobbs Owen American In Paris Photo by Joelle GingerSole Photography jm_orig Ladies.AIP.Dress GingerSole Photography thecompany-4_orig TheMen2.LT.Jacob.Michael.JMGingerSole Photography
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Rehearsal of "American In Paris" - Choreography by Nancy Dobbs Owen - Photo by Ginger Sole Photography

Fetta, back from a quick intermission, wore a sequined black tux jacket which introduced the next rousing piece, Aaron Copeland’s “Rodeo.”  Also, a piece designed for dance.  Copeland’s now iconic American musical themes, evoked images of the plains with acres of desert, mountains, and prairies, originally co-conceived and imagined by the great choreographer, Agnes de Mille for Ballet Theatre.  This was done strictly in concert in this evening of music and dance.

Fetta and Dobbs Owen, then presented American in Paris, a perfect piece to end the balmy evening.  The female dancers wearing red caped sleeve flowing dresses and men in black T’s and pants characterized the busy streets of Paris circa 1951. In this author’s view…a mixture of colors and costuming may have been helpful in representing the busy Parisian streets in all its humanity and color.  However, Aria Alekzander, in lemon yellow with Spencer Ramirez, were entrancing, both technically and dramatically.  Their lovely chemistry, professionalism, and elón managed to transport us to bygone days when life and love seemed simpler. Their enchanting pas de deux with their lyrical lines helped deliver Dobbs Owen’s vision, design and her impressive respect for a living classic art.  With the corps of strong male and female dancers surrounding the leads with contrast and support, this ended a truly uplifting evening.

After reflection, it is true we need more of this kind of art for everyone, just to remind us of what we are as a culture and what we feel deeply in our souls.  Congratulations to Supervisor Hahn, Beaches and Harbors’ Gary Jones and Carol Baker and the artists and crew who made this evening possible and gave us all great joy of music and dance.

Written by Joanne DiVito for LA Dance Chronicle, August 9, 2019

For more information on Marina Del Rey Symphony, click here.

For more information about Nancy Dobbs Owen, click here.

Featured image: Aria Alekzander and Spencer Ramirez in rehearsal for “American in Paris” – Choreography by Nancy Dobbs Owen – Photo by Ginger Sole Photography