U of T’s Only Human Dance Collective presented Observing Emotion: A Study of Human Behaviour to an enthusiastic audience at the Betty Oliphant Theatre this weekend. The show comprised short dances reflecting the progression of the human cycle of emotions. The audience’s enthusiasm was a reflection of the liveliness of the dancers’ performances, resulting in a fun and entertaining evening of dance.
Observing Emotion opened with the spirited number “When the Cat’s Away…” which included most of the company’s dancers. The piece was a story of maids and butlers misbehaving when their master leaves, and quite suitably, it began with classical dance and music, then transitioned into the upbeat hip-hop “Shake Your Pom Pom.” Beginning with a feeling of innocence, the pieces evolved to describe joy, love, lost innocence, obsession, and finally, struggle. Within each of these categories were a number of minute-long dance pieces that interpreted the emotion differently. The sheer energy of this part of the show set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Alluding to the title, the performances offered a varied array of music, choreography, and dance forms. Most of the pieces were done in the lyrical style, but there were a number of strong modern pieces and a lovely Middle Eastern dance. Some of the most successful pieces were the hip-hop dances—these performers had clearly perfected their craft and danced with great passion.
The choreography was consistently diverse and creative, and both dancers and choreographers made excellent use of the theatre’s space and levels to depict the erratic nature of human emotion. While the set and costumes reflected the lower budget expected of a student dance group, the designers used their resources with flair. Cardboard, garbage bags, and fishnet stockings were all put to good use, creating a feeling of scrappiness that often enhanced the authentic feel of the performances.
The standout piece was the final performance of the evening, “Ascend/Descend.” Dragi Dodevski and Susana Chwang, who both possessed strong technique and chemistry, beautifully performed to Bellini’s “Aria Casta Diva” a modern dance duet representing distress. The set and costumes for this piece were simple and elegant, drawing the audience’s focus completely to Genady Gavleshov’s dynamic choreography.
On the whole, the dance company worked very well—the performers were all very comfortable moving together, working off each other to create the passion and power present in each piece. The Only Human Dance Collective has a mandate to welcome all dancers regardless of experience, so naturally, technical abilities varied from dancer to dancer. However, all the students involved in Observing Emotion were certainly capable, and, more importantly, seemed to really enjoy performing.
While technique and physical abilities are important features in a dance performance, a dancer’s dynamic and passion are ultimately what makes a performance succeed. By creating a sense of community, the Only Human Dance Collective’s inclusive vibe was felt both within the performance and in the audience.—Ariel Lewis
