move: the company

KC Metropolis Review of Josh Beamish’s Les Oiseaux

September, 2010

UMKC's Spring Dance is a Wild Ride

By Laura Vernaci

Tue, Apr 20, 2010

Last Saturday night at White Recital Hall, UMKC Dance Department's Spring Performance played out much like a roller coaster ride. There were ups, downs, flat sections, and parts where you wanted to throw your hands up and scream. The program was organized likewise, allowing the audience to experience a wide range of styles and emotions...

The best two works of the night were saved for the end - just like the biggest loops and scariest turns come at the end of a roller coaster ride, leaving people wanting to experience it again and again. Knowing that Les Oiseaux translates as "The Birds" brings understanding to the next piece. Choreographer Josh Beamish featured "winged" roles from two famous classical ballets - Odette and Odile from Swan Lake and Firebird with their male counterparts. The music, combined with the raw choreography and intriguing interpretation, left the audience wanting to see more. Especially from Brittany Duskin who played the Firebird. Dressed in red with red hair, Duskin commanded attention. The decision to have a male play Odile was confusing as well as there being two Odettes. The modern portrayal of Odette's death scene, performed by McGriff, depicted the dying swan rolling across the stage surrounded by flailing limbs and tulle. Luckily, the focus was rarely on the corps whose formations were less than stellar and whose energy lacked in comparison to the leads.