On a cool Sunday night in October, audience members packed into a small studio at Westside Ballet, quickly warming the room as they awaited Kenneth Walker Dance Project’s latest show, Spellbound. Stanley Simmons, Michael Pacciorini, and Kenneth Walker designed stunning costumes for the dancers, often in soft pastel tones and with intricate patterns, that created an elegant feel to the evening. The program centered on the company’s presentation of Birthday Variations, choreographed by Gerald Arpino and performed with permission from The Gerald Arpino Foundation.
Birthday Variations is a challenging piece featuring multiple ensemble sections, fouetté turns en pointe, several solos, and an energetic duet with multiple overhead lifts. The highlights of the work included clean ensemble moments and strong musicality. Although the dancer’s technicality could be improved upon, the piece was clearly well-rehearsed and enjoyable to watch. Their enthusiasm and expressiveness grew as the performance progressed, culminating in a joyous final ensemble moment followed by a formal, traditional bow. A lovely touch not often seen in contemporary performances. The performers of this demanding work included Skylar Burson, Victoria Manning Long, Teresa Dietrich, Tracey Jones, Kathryn Kalamaras, and Kiara Kinghorn.
Kenneth Walker Dance Project – Dancers Kiara Kinghorn, Teresa Dietrich – Photo by Olivia Hamilton.
Wearing tops splashed with what looked like Rorschach ink patterns, the dancers moved to soft, deliberate music, occasionally breaking the slow and careful movement with human gestures such as jogging, scratching, or rubbing their hands all while their faces remained expressionless. The dancers were often off timing with each other and sometimes seemed to be unsure of the movements. The final section felt brighter, as if they had reached some sort of resolution to whatever tension was present in the beginning. I found myself wondering about the meaning behind these gestures and moments of stillness or if like the Rorschach patterns, we were supposed to find our own story. The dancers were Teresa Dietrich, Kathryn Kalamaras, Rosita Rico, Aurore Stalder, Samuel Villarreal.
The next piece was a duet performed by Skylar Burson and Victoria Manning Long. Although duet partners earlier in the show during Birthday Variations, this time they were far from joyful lovers, portraying a couple in turmoil. Like in the other pieces, the dancers seemed to grow more comfortable in their characters as the work progressed, and by the end, the audience was leaning forward in their seats, eager to see how this tense relationship would resolve. There were several unique and complex lifts that heightened the suspense and emotional weight of the work.
Kenneth Walker Dance Project – Dancers Skylar Burson (in back) and Teresa Dietrich – Photo by Olivia Hamilton.
The final piece of the show, Ease of Euphoria, was a playful work with the dancers dressed as dolls in a range of bright colors. Again, the piece seemed well-rehearsed, with clean sections of unison and duets. Occasionally, one dancer would disrupt the group, causing a mishap that led to a humorous back-and-forth. I would have loved to see more of these interactions, along with greater eye contact and play between the dancers.
Overall, Spellbound offered moments of charm and sincerity. The beautifully designed costumes added elegance throughout the evening, and by the end of each work, the dancers’ earnestness shone through, leaving the audience with an appreciation for their effort and artistry.
To learn more about Kenneth Walker Dance Project, please visit their website.
Written by Denali Huff for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Kenneth Walker Dance Project – Male dancer: Skylar Burson, Women L-R: Kathryn Kalamaras, Kiiara Kinghorn, Victoria Manning Long – Photo by Olivia Hamilton.
