This was the final weekend of Dance at the Odyssey Summer Edition 2024 and on Friday, July 12th, the festival featured Bounded By Intervals created by hasten dance & Kaia Makihara. Presented in two acts, this was first-rate dance theater performed by outstanding dancers and set to dynamic scores by Dar Golan and Tobias Echeverria. There are places where the work needs attention, but overall it was an exciting evening of dance and drama.
Kaia Makihara in “No Chapters Closed” choreographed by Kaia Makiahara – Photo by Hope Spears.
Both acts included the same set, with subtle changes in Act Two. It was a somewhat stark room that could have been anywhere in any city. In Act One, titled No Chapters Closed, the Narrator (Tobias Echeverria) who wore a black laced covering over his head, told us that it was a house on Vine Street, and he warned us that this was “not a happy story.” Choreographed by Kaia Makihara and performed vividly by Chelsea Roquero and Makihara, the narrator’s dire warning proved to be accurate. We were told that the cause of this unhappiness happened three years prior, and it was not clear what exactly occurred.
Kaia Makihara and Chlesea Roquero in “No Chapters Closed” choreographed by Kaia Makiahara – Photo by Hope Spears.
What was clear was that the relationship between the couple was, at best, complicated and that the occurrence had driven the man to drink and despair. He was haunted by his ex and No Chapters Closed was a series of her visitations into his memory.
The set was a sofa placed upstage center. At one end was a small side table with a lamp and on the other was a floor lamp. A clothes rack with the couple’s clothing was on stage right, a small wooden stool placed nearby, and a dining room table and chair on stage left. This was not the room of a wealthy person. There was nothing decorative anywhere which set the tone of unhappiness and loneliness.
Kaia Makihara in “No Chapters Closed” choreographed by Kaia Makiahara – Photo by Hope Spears.
The woman entered and exited through the clothing, adding to the sense that she was a vision or memory, not actually there. At times her “ghost” appeared to remember better times and searched through the clothes for a favorite dress or jacket for her mate and indeed she dances with one of his suit jackets. The choreography was quite wonderful with one scene that reminded me of a version of Romeo and Juliet where Juliet dances with the limp body of her deceased lover. She manipulated how he moved, which arm went where and in what direction. The couple obviously loved one another very much and Makihara’s movement made that clear without overdramatizing while aptly using every piece of furniture.
Tobias Echeverria, Orlando Agawin, Krystal Masteller, Jen Lacy in “Circle of 5ths” by hasten dance (Chelesea Roquero and Krystal Masteller) – Photo by Hannah Roquero.
The black lace covered faces carried over into Act Two titled Circle of 5ths choreographed by hasten dance in collaboration with the very strong dancers, Krystal Masteller, Jen Lacy, and Orlando Agawin. This act became long and somewhat predictable as it continued on, but it too was filled with wonderful choreography and excellent performances. The first solo performed by Lacy was about revealing different personalities of oneself and once there was acceptance, Lacy removed her veil and revealed her true self. Agawin reacted similarly during her solo titled indulgence, Masteller performed destruction which became more violent mainly directed towards herself, the difference being that she never removed her veil. Convergence brought the three together with the narrator and a wonderful ending which left one wondering what came next.
Chelsea Roquero, Orlando Agawin, Tobias Echeverria, Krystal Masteller, Jen Lacy, and Kaia Makihara in “Circle of 5ths” by hasten dance Chelsea Roquero and Krystal Masteller – Photo by Hope Spears.
The dramatic music was by composer Tobias Echeverria and the costumes were by Hannah Roquero. The very appropriate lighting was designed by Katelan Braymer.
Hasten dance is a newly formed group and I look forward to seeing more of their work.
To learn more about The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Dance at the Odyssey, please visit their website.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Jen Lacy and Orlando Agawin in Circle of 5ths by hasten dance Chelsea Roquero and Krystal Masteller – Photo by Hope Spears.
