A good, say, 37 percent of dance presentation is choosing the right companies and works for a venue. It’s never fun to see a small-scale work swallowed up at George Mason University (and performed before a half-empty house) or dancers sandwiched between a curtain and a wall at Dance Place (even if the house is packed).
Which is why the folks at American Dance Institute look like geniuses for opening the inaugural season of their renovated theater in Rockville with Jane Comfort’s six-member company. Saturday’s show sold out; Sunday’s came close. And the actual performance? Fantastic and fascinating.
The troupe performed “Underground River,” Comfort’s heartbreaking 1998 collaboration with puppeteer Basil Twist, and “Beauty,” a new work that debuted at Jacob’s Pillow in June. “Beauty” is bookended by a pageant for Barbies: four star-spangled dancers in padded-boob bodysuits.
As the women demonstrate with comic ease, it’s awkward just walking when top-heavy, or waving with an arm fused at an angle, or having sex without bending your legs. Thanks to Lucie Baker, as Barbie No. 1, and Sean Donovan, as Ken, for the mock plastic copulation.
Like the best works of dance theater, “Beauty” isn’t preachy. Instead, Comfort creates a space for viewers to think about women, bodies and society while watching movement. There’s a great scene featuring Donovan as a relationship counselor who decodes female body language — who-cares hair flips and come-hither hip thrusts. Later, Barbie No. 3 (Ellie Harrison) works out with a personal trainer, then goes on a rant about vanity sizing.
When the dancers return wearing sequins for the pageant finale, emcee Donovan has a little surprise for the audience: Help crown a winner! Congrats to Leslie Cuyjet, Barbie No. 4, who stands in the spotlight waving while the other dancers get to relax, remove their hair extensions and don street clothes. Turns out, pageant-winning charm is deceitfully limiting, but “Beauty” is right on.
Ritzel is a freelance writer.
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