iMEE: Infinite Movement Ever Evolving @ The Lobero
Through the innovative collaboration of artistic mediums, the artists who make up Infinite Movement Ever Evolving (iMEE) remind us that violins can dance, sculptures can breath, and dancers can speak.
Under the artistic direction of ex-State Street Ballet dancers Spencer Gavin Hering and Andrea Dawn Shelley, the interdisciplinary group of artists drew on their collective talents for iMEE’s second Santa Barbara showing during two performances at the Lobero on June 4th and 5th.
Entitled Program II: “verbal interludes”, the performance was true to its name with eight distinct mainpieces linked together through verbal and musical interludes. With violin in hand, theatrical artist and gifted musician Graham Patzner served as a guide between the us and the them, linking the audience to the dancers through poetry, spoken word, music, and song, much like a barefoot troubadour – part clown and part maestro.
The ambitious program included several Santa Barbara premieres as well as a few fan favorites, such as Ivonice and Dichotomy. In 4Ward & 4Gotten, a quartet of dancers explored our complex relationship to friends and family – the support they offer sometimes helpful and other times confining. Frozen Angels followed as a pas de deux danced to the Pablo Neruda poem “I Like For You To Be Still” with dancers refusing to be so.
Following intermission, the curtain raised on Acquiescence, which featured a looming, open steal box, crisscrossed with white, spider web-like threads. Although striking, the sheer size of it competed with the dancers, who, as a trio were engaging on their own; Paola Georgudis particularly so, given her strength and dynamic flair.
In keeping with the interdisciplinary approach, Interludium captured the iMEE dancers on film in a light and fun improv game of ‘tag you’re it’ while La Follias’ Folie featured the work of guest choreographer Jerry Opdenaker. Patzner, acting as ballet master, conducted the dancers in an exuberant, mini-ballet performed beautifully beneath a series of serpentine shapes suspended from the rafters. Conglomerate brought the performance to a close, punctuating the performance with a final statement of iMEE’s artistic vision: “We, as a whole, keep the art of dance alive. Breathe the breath of dance and keep evolving and growing with us as... Infinite Movement Ever Evolving.”
If you missed the show, check out iMEE on YouTube or visit www.infinitemoves.com. Or, better yet, look out for iMEE the next time they’re in town and get tickets to the show!
Caption: iMEE Artists Andrea Dawn Shelley and Cristian Laverde Koenig. Photo by Mike Mesikep.
CASA Magazine, June 11, 2010
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