Identity Performing Arts held the premiere of its fall concert, “Enliven,” at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 7:30 pm. The night began with a warm introduction by Founder and Artistic Director, Ginny Ching-Yin Lo, and a jovial hello from collaborator and filmmaker Spence Warren.
The three-piece performance showcased a bit of old and new, beginning with a reproduction of the spring 2023, “Perpetual,” choreographed by Lo, and described by her as an exploration of duality in humanity. “Perpetual” begins with a singular dancer in nude squirming on the floor, torso undulating, reaching with distinct articulation through the spine and out to the fingers: a visceral crawling. My interest was piqued as I recalled the program note’s mention of “demonic” qualities.
As another dancer joins the space, the quality then shifts to smoother suspended swirls—the hallmark stamp of choreographic tonality that will carry on through the rest of the concert’s pieces. The constant ebb and flow of the opposing “angelic” movement had me searching for the dualities, yearning for the grotesque to rear its head again within the various moments of overlapping duets.
Next was a dance film directed by Spence Warren called “Kindred.” Each dancer appears alone in a room of a house, costumed uniquely but color-coordinated in black and white with a pop of red. They have their own moment to perform a site-specific study, whether leaning on a staircase, inside a bathtub, or around a kitchen counter, all still in the vein of Lo’s unbroken shape-flow style. These solos germinate the seed of an idea anchored around the intended theme of individuality. The well-framed shots provide long moments of contemplation as the performers slow their movement and gaze into the camera, then cut like pages of a book flipping rapidly as they pick up movement—a layer of videographic texture.
The dancers are brought together on the screen toward the end, now all wearing red, arching and folding in ribboned ripples. It hinted at the secondary choreographic intention of interconnectedness; however, in the midst of the circled group melting on top of one another, a flower wilting and blooming, the film swiftly concludes.
Josephine Castillo and Amelia Harris of Identity Performing Arts in the latest production, "Enliven"; Photo by Peter Hinsdale
The final piece was the premier of Lo’s newest work, “Enliven,” which is stated as an extension of the ideas behind the film, “Kindred.” Lighthearted music is paired with repeating movement phrases of sprightly jumps and spins in yellow flowy unitards, a buoyant frolicking through meadows. Then, the music begins spontaneously cutting and changing. Each dancer was perhaps given a section to display their strengths; for example, when the music cuts to piano, a solo dancer shows off their impressive flexibility with drawn-out backbends and reaches. Then, when driving, strumming guitar suddenly burgeons upon our ears, a quartet of four with grounding lunges bounding instantly into churning, airborne tornados demonstrate their ability to harness power and intensity.
The final chapter of Enliven is marked with a surprising new techno and beat-heavy groove. A few unison sections finally build up the momentum of the piece. We are introduced to new motifs like clapping, a staccato rhythm, and breathing. But as is the trend in finales, we end at an apex: The square of dancers downstage fall to their knees, and the blackout occurs before the wind on stage settles from this new energetic shift.
We were left with a promise of an exciting new spring 2024 repertoire, which I hope will zero in on specificity of intention, as well as play with and expand upon those hints of rhythm and pacing ideas presented toward the end of the show. The company displays an impressive trust through difficult and intricate partner work. There is no doubt that they can take on this challenge!
A second run of Identity Performing Arts’ “Enliven” was held on Saturday, November 18, at 7:30 pm at the Studio 5 Performing Arts Center, 1938 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202. For more information about “Enliven” and Identity Performing Arts, please click the event link below or visit https://www.identityperformingarts.org/.
