Written by Amy Cohen Banker for THE ARTISTS FORUM MAGAZINE
Edited by Amos White V for THE ARTISTS FORUM, INC
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Westerby Company
REVIEWER RATING:
5 out of 5 stars
MATTHEW WESTERBY COMPANY PRESENTS A SWAN LAKE FANTASY
NEW YORK, NY (Tuesday, April 1, 2014) On Sunday, March 30th, the Matthew Westerby Company presented A Swan Lake Fantasy and Other Works at the Hudson Guild Theatre.
The piece was created by collaborators Matthew Westerby (choreography), Matt Van Brink (composer/arranger), and Matei Varga (pianist), with lighting by Michael Riggs. The other works included two premieres and selections from their repertory, Lifeline and Duet X.
A Swan Lake Fantasy 2013/2014 was a stellar performance and a highlight of the season. It featured dancers Dylan Baker, Dina-Verley Christophe, Kayla Farrish, Gierre Godley, Nicole Kadar, Alessandra Larson, Kristin Licata, and Matthew Westerby with costumes by Nicole Kadar, Alessandra Larson, and Kristin Licata.
The Matthew Westerby Company reminds us how a small modern dance company can prove itself relevant in a city with many major players. The impact and education was current, immediate, and surprisingly pleasurable for me.
They took a mundane, rainy Sunday afternoon and turned it into a joyous, sunny, celebration of creation, movement, athleticism, music, and dance. It was an exchange of positive energy for a multi-generational audience. History and themes ran through all three episodes reminding me of past inspirations such as Robert Wilson and Paul Taylor.
Swan Lake was a serious statement that ran through decades and centuries of musical movements and scenes in an original, fresh, articulate, clear message for today. We learned about classical, jazz, contemporary dance, and history.
The choreography, costumes, lighting, arrangements all worked. The Company and the audience shared a diverse and educational afternoon of enjoyment. A lesson for all ages that modern dance can reawaken dormant inspiration and demonstrate why we should support life entertainment of this kind. Uplifting, hopeful, joyous, romantic yearning, unexpected romance, inspired traditional and contemporary modern dance for all.
For more information about the Matthew Westerby Company, visit: matthewwesterbycompany.org
