Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Trusting the process: Dorrance Dance’s SHIFT. finds transcendence in authenticity and community

• By drediman
• July 17, 2024
• No Comments

Michelle Dorrance’s latest creation Shift. — which enjoyed its world premiere last night at The Joyce Theater — is a many-splendored thing. First and foremost, the full length piece commemorates Dorrance’s teacher and mentor Gene Medler, the founder of North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, the collective in which Dorrance honed her dance skills and overall sensibility as an artist. More specifically, Shift. honors Medler by consciously shifting the focus from the man himself and putting the spotlight on the manner in which he imparted the art of tap dancing to his students, many of whom are now among the world’s most notable tap dancers.

Medler’s community-based philosophy — now Dorrance’s — is very much at the heart of Shift., which has the deceptive look of a glorified rehearsal session. Don’t be fooled, however, by its casualness (at least initially). Performed by a stellar ensemble of eight, Dorrance creates a safe space for her dancers, giving them the leeway — via ample opportunities for improvisation and musical expression — to bring their authentic selves to their performances. Throughout, there’s an indelible sense of play and creative freedom, encouraging company members to be as reactive to their respective inner lives and current states of mind, as they are to each other. By trusting the process, they’ve created a work of transcendent art that’s both deeply personal and universal in the most organic and unaffected of ways.

Shift. does well to bring variety to the table, in terms of dance (ranging in style from the stone-skipping lightness of a soft shoe dance to the excitement of aggressively percussive ensemble numbers) emotional tone, and music (an eclectic soundtrack, complete with seamlessly integrated acoustic and electronic soundscapes). Suffice to say, all of it rang true in the same way it often does in organic jam sessions. Over the course of the evening, dancers take turns playing instruments and singing, as if to emphasize their dual roles as musicians and dancers. The piece also finds Dorrance “shifting” into the same kind of leadership and nurturing role as Medler; she now wields the same influence to shape the next generation of tap dancers.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

DORRANCE DANCE: SHIFT.
Dance
The Joyce Theater
1 hour, 5 minutes (without an intermission)
Through July 21