A purplish red ice sculpture hung from the rafters by a thick silver metal chain as a woman gently touched and stroked it with her hand. Nearby a man and woman sat on the floor in a loving pose while Ian Wellman’s extremely powerful score filled the space. The L.A. Dance Project performance area had been transformed with a very large raised white carpet whose edges were lined with tubed lighting. The scene was set for an emotional and intellectual experience.
SIMULACRA Megan Paradowski – Photo by Skye Schmidt Varga for L.A. Dance Project, LAUNCH LA 2025.
This was what welcomed the audience as they entered the L.A. Dance Project performance space on Friday, September 19, 2025 for LAUNCH: LA 25. The title of this intriguing work was SIMULACRA choreographed by Megan Paradowski. According to Wikipedia, a simulacra are copies that depict things that either had no original, or that no longer have an original. Three men and three women took the viewer through a sometimes disturbing experience as they appeared to share the same world through very different realities. Throughout the work, an outcome felt like it was always on the edge of happening but never quite took place.
SIMULACRA Megan Paradowski – Photo by Skye Schmidt Varga for L.A. Dance Project, LAUNCH LA 2025.
The speed of the ice’s dripping picked up as the work progressed. Created by sculptor/artist Heidi Ross, the sculpture’s color was brought about by its being dyed with beet juice. At first sighting, it reminded me of an oversized grape popsicle hung upside down. Indeed, at one time performer Maddie Lacambra runs her index finger down the ice’s surface and then places it in her mouth.
SIMULACRA Megan Paradowski – Photo by Skye Schmidt Varga for L.A. Dance Project, LAUNCH LA 2025.
SIMULACRA began slowly with the performers shifting positions, but as the speed of the melting picked up so did the intensity of the action onstage. Paradowski’s movement was angular and always a bit off center. Her partnering felt purposefully hurried and frantic, as if the pending disappearance of the melting ice were the driving force behind the characters.
Several images came to mind regarding the sculpture which was so very prominent during the work; a life source, God, aging, an hourglass, and pending doom. At one point it became the center of a ritualistic dance by four of the performers who struck the sculpture with a drumstick and then dropped writhing onto the ground.
SIMULACRA Megan Paradowski – Photo by Skye Schmidt Varga for L.A. Dance Project, LAUNCH LA 2025.
The ending to SIMULACRA included the entire cast slowly exiting downstage left. While I got that this was their moving on to the next experience, it felt incomplete for a work that was otherwise intense.
The talented cast of SIMULACRA were Jessy Crist, Maddie Lacambra, Travis Lim, Nadia Maryam, Jonah Tran, and Marco Vega. The sculptured costumes which suggested that these were arduous times were designed by Gabrielle Kraus, and the gorgeous lighting was designed by Caleb Wildman.
WOMANLAND by Rosalynde LeBlanc – Photo by Skye Schmidt Varga for L.A. Dance Project LAUNCH: LA 2025.
Following intermission, Rosalynde LeBlanc’s WOMANLAND transported the audience back to a more familiar world and time. The appropriate title demonstrated just how unjustly this country, and dare I say the world, has treated women and the toll it has taken on them. It also highlighted different ways that women support women, their power and strength, all of which helped to offset the anger of being reminded of the injustice.
WOMANLAND by Rosalynde LeBlanc – Photo by Skye Schmidt Varga for L.A. Dance Project LAUNCH: LA 2025.
A timelapse projection of the United States House of Representative covered the back wall and just like one might feel after watching the chaos that transpires there, the scene morphed into Warhol Pop Art colors and then changed into different scenic vistas of this beautiful country.
A desk and chair sat on a large Persian rug while several people, all dressed in suit and tie, stood around posing like delegates discussing issues of state. Unlike our Congress, the majority of them were women, and via the different groupings and solos LeBlanc pointed out how the wheels of Congress continue to spin without getting very far.
WOMANLAND by Rosalynde LeBlanc – Photo by Skye Schmidt Varga for L.A. Dance Project LAUNCH: LA 2025.
There was a wonderful tribute to Harriett Tubman, portrayed by LeBlanc during which we were reminded of all that she sacrificed to help end slavery and the little recognition she received from the government. Several women in all white marched and danced around bringing to this viewer’s mind photos and films of the Suffragettes who marched in the streets for women’s rights during the early 20th century.
WOMANLAND by Rosalynde LeBlanc – Photo by Skye Schmidt Varga for L.A. Dance Project LAUNCH: LA 2025.
LeBlanc managed to make numerous statements about the world of women but the highlight of WOMANLAND and indeed of the entire evening, was LeBlanc’s solo at the end of the piece. She sat totally naked on a white toilet with her feet upon a small grey block and through only her facial expressions, we watched her go from happiness to fear to terror, to despair, and finally to finding peace. I, for one, would have traveled to anywhere to witness just that solo and been totally satisfied. It was a marvel to see.
The Video Décor was by Michael Cole, Sound Designer was Eric Mason, Costume Designer was Dione Lebhar, Lighting Designer was Caleb Wildman.
The wonderful cast included: Principals: Camilla Aran, Marissa Brown, Rosalynde LeBlanc, Eliza Loran, and Chelsea Roquero. Chorus: Kevin Carpio, Madeleine Crowle, Sadie Crystal, Jordan Diamond, Emily Keller, Sydney Latimer, Camilla Machado, and Kristine Pohle.
LAUNCH: LA 25 runs again this weekend, September 19th and 20th at 8:00 pm. For more and to purchase tickets, please visit the L.A. Dance Project website.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured photo: SIMULACRA by Megan Paradowski – Photo by Skye Schmidt Varga for L.A. Dance Project LAUNCH: LA 2025.
