Monday, December 17, 2007; C05
With an easy-to-follow narrative, imaginative costumes and bits of comic relief, CityDance Ensemble's Saturday performance of "Jungle Books" at the Lansburgh Theatre was fine kid-friendly fare.
Based on Rudyard Kipling's books of similar name, the work tells the story of Mowgli, a boy who is raised in the jungle by wolves. When Mowgli is kidnapped by a band of mischievous monkeys, he is saved by the wisdom of the serpent Kaa. Later, Mowgli duels with an evil tiger that has killed one of the wolves. All the while, Baloo the bear is by his side, an affable but protective friend.
Much of the movement in this work required the dancers to directly mimic the animals they were embodying. Alice Wylie rippled and writhed as the snake; the ensemble of wolves danced with fingers splayed like claws. While this was an effective way to establish the characters, particularly in a performance geared toward children, one wished they would have found more inventive ways to personify these creatures.
Jason Garcia Ignacio was a smart choice for the role of Mowgli. His slight build and stature make him appear youthful, and he danced the role with a frothy, impish charm. His dancing strikes the perfect balance of delicacy and robustness. A vigorous dive somersault was tempered by a careful, soft landing, and he anchored silky arm sweeps with force and strength.
-- Sarah Halzack
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