© Simon Soong Photography
It is a good sign when there is a little buzz in the house created by individuals who are familiar with the dancers, the company and the dance community in general. It is an especially good sign when it is the first year of a dance company that already has a following.
Dimension Dance Theater of Miami’s (DDTM) presented its final performance of its first season, "Fever: A Night Of Summer Ballet," on July 8 at The South Miami-Dade Cultural Center.
DDTM ended their year with a neo-classical performance, taking the audience from a whimsical French quartet to hot, passionate Latin duets accompanied by the sultry voice of Miami’s own Cachita Lopez singing the familiar songs of La Lupe with much appreciated live accompaniment from Alain Garcia and the Latin Power Band.
There was an ample amount of intense partnering in this program containing many dynamic lifts and intricate swirls. So much so that the simple bareness of “C’est La Vie,” stood out. The little menage a quatre with Trisha Carter, Stephan Fons, Chloe Freytag, and Eduardo Iglesias was basic in its construction and vocabulary. Signature bent back walks and funny, hand quirks within a classical vein gave “C’est La Vie” a unique look. It would be interesting to see choreography that included fuller character development from the foursome. Freytag's diagonal, feisty walk across the stage was a cute entrance to the finale of swurvy hips, snappy heads and the humorous relationships amid the wistful elegance of the dancers.
© Simon Soong Photography
A repeat of “Esferas" choreographed by Miami City Ballet dancer, Ariel Rose, was a welcome second viewing. Performing on the much larger stage of the Cultural Center after having initially performed in a smaller, more intimate space allowed the trio of Gabriela Mesa, Josue Justiz and Fabian Morales to take ownership of the space and move with a freedom not previously evident. It was lovely to see the comfort and maturity of the trio, now more familiar with each other, and the seamlessness that is evident when one performs something more than once. Shapes and lines were clear in the muted colors of the simple costuming. It was easy to simply watch and enjoy.
Guest ballerina from Miami City Ballet, Katia Carranza and Iglesias created an atmosphere of vastness as they sailed through the pas de deux from the complete ballet, “Sinergia.” With both dancers in basic rehearsal clothes of deep blue, unusual lifts and challenging partnering looked effortless. A pas that was pretty and slightly Latin infused showed cool emotion and smooth technical prowess.
© Simon Soong Photography
The highlight of the program was Vincente Nebrada’s passionate “Fiebre" (Fever). Nebrada is known for his intricate and sensuous partnering and “Fiebre" is a striking example of his work. Each of the four pas was more difficult and complex than the next with swirling, shiny, fabric abundant dresses adding to the tangle of each duet.
Sometimes the passion was overshadowed by the intricacy and difficulty of the partnering, holding positions a little too long to prepare for the next dynamic maneuver. Mayrel Martinez (pushing outside of her comfort level) with Maikel Hernandez, the sultry Mesa and Morales, versatile Freytag, Justiz and Sarah McCahill with Fons were a committed and fervent group.
The men had their work cut out for them in the demanding partnering. There was a fierce moment in a section that only showcased the men in a series of jumps, turns and camaraderie. “Fiebre,” with live voice and music and the four intense couples was a rousing and apt finish to the evening.
Co-founders Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg and Carlos Miguel Guerra dance together on each program, and the audience has come to expect it; in fact, it's something to look forward to. The directors chose to present “Transparente,” a well delivered duet demanding emotional rawness with driving energy.
© Simon Soong Photography
The program note states “Transparente represents the intensity and tenacity of enduring relationships.” This statement could be true for DDTM’s whirlwind first year.
