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The Charleston Concert Association presented the second dance offering of their season with the
dynamic Complexions Contemporary Ballet perhaps in a bold effort to appeal to a younger audience,
however the less than half full theatre was an unfortunate reminder on how hard it is to get people to
the theatre for dance.
Complexions is a company which was formed in 1994 when two of Alvin Ailey’s brightest stars, Dwight
Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, broke off to begin their own company. Its mission was to push the
boundaries of what dance can be and how movement can blend many styles and cultures reflecting the
world around us. Primarily, the company is known for its dancers who are awe inspiring to watch with
technical training that rivals any company in the world as well as being a beautiful group representing
many ethnic backgrounds.
In the opening 25 minute work titled Mercy , the 14 dancers examined the theme of faith accompanied
by a collection of various chants, hymns and spirituals representing an array of religions. A central figure
danced by the brilliant Gary W. Jeter was at times a Christ figure, at others the antagonist and others an
evangelist, his theatrical gestures, jumps and perfect lines immediately showed him as a standout. The
company displayed explosive intensity here with convulsive jerks, angular shapes and spit fire leaps
driven by the pounding collage of music. But it is here it became clear that what is secondary for the
company is choreography, and by the end of this impressive blast off, I wondered if the dance had
gotten anywhere, like a race car that revs its engine and doesn’t get to the finish line. The repetitive
sequences were full of super high extensions and speedy turns which all happened so quickly it was
difficult to enjoy any one moment. Various costume changes and props came and went without any
major rhyme or reason.
The second portion of the evening was lighter fare with four duets to very different music selections
with a high point being two male dancers dancing to one of Vivaldi’s four seasons and another to
Broadway show tunes. Here, the dancers pleased the crowd with their skill and personality and there
was something for everyone to enjoy. This is a company where the men really carry the company, and it
is refreshing to see.
Finally Rise was a celebration of U2 songs with the full company in bright and sexy costumes to the high
powered tunes. This was where the dancer’s raw and relentless energy worked to its advantage showing
the pure love of movement and the fun and life affirming way physical expression can transport the
viewer into another place. Complexions is passionate about what they do and at the end, many were
brought to their feet to show appreciation for this exhilarating display of the human spirit.