NC State Live presented Durham-based dance company Gaspard&Dancers for dance lovers and those unfamiliar with the art.
The Oct. 5 performance at Stewart Theatre began with the premiere of “Anbrasse,” a dance choreographed by Gaspard Louis, the founder and artistic director of Gaspard&Dancers, and Doug Varone, the artistic director of Doug Varone and Dancers.
The stage was dimly lit, and though the dancers were often displaced from each other, they appeared unified in their neutral-toned costumes.
During the post-show talk, Louis spoke on the meaning behind “Anbrasse.” The dance was inspired by “The Embrace,” a bronze sculpture dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. located in Boston.
“The artist got a lot of pushback for the sole reason that a lot of people thought the sculpture was not an actual replica of Martin Luther King Jr.,” Louis said. “They didn’t get the message behind this beautiful artwork, which was a community coming together, the openness of our society wanting to embrace each other’s cultural differences. That was the premise of the piece when I initially reached out to Doug: … one nation, one people.”
The combination of the two artistic directors also aligned with this theme of community. Varone said it’s rare for him to collaborate with other artists, but he recognized the significance of the piece.
“Gaspar came with images and ideas that spilled out on the floor,” Varone said. “I feel like I’ve built a lifetime of creating work that has an emotional intensity to it. I believe that the form and structure of how bodies move in space tell stories. This idea of sculpture came to life — it compelled the creative process and allowed us to step into the ideas of using bodies to move humanity forward.”
Halfway through the program, there was a five-minute pause before another breathtaking collaborative work, “Sodo/Waterfall (2022),” with Daniel Bernard Roumain, a composer, educator and performer who has frequently made appearances through NC State Live.
Bernard wrote the music for the piece.
“Daniel is an incredible musician,” Louis said. “I’ve always wanted to work with him, but I’ve never been able to because he’s pretty high up there.”
The audience was transported to Haiti with a waterfall background and minimalist props as performers Marsha Guirlande Pierre and Khalid Dunton took the stage. At the post-show talk, Louis explained that the setting holds religious significance.
“It became a special place for everyone, … for those who want to have a better life,” Louis said. “You’d go up there every year and look for hope, that’s the premise behind the piece.”
Attendee Jarod Duesing, a fourth-year studying biochemistry, said “Sodo/Waterfall (2022)” was his favorite performance of the night. Having taken some dance classes himself, Duesing said he understands the hard work that goes into creating profoundly meaningful works.
“It gave me a lot of respect for the people who do that,” Duesing said. “The event was all really neat. I think dance is really neat.”
The five performances, each with diverse people and stories, offered audience members with varying degrees of interest in dance a similar opportunity to reflect onthe deeper issues facing our world today.
Discover Gaspard&Dancers on its website, and mark your calendars for future NC State Live performances.
