Jaricco Dance proved their excellence is no fluke

As anticipation built from Vimeo teasers and word of mouth I wondered if Jaricco.Dance's new offering ‘Through the Looking Glass’ would measure up to the company’s debut production ‘Return to Paradise’. This weekend Eric Bean Jr. demonstrated that excellence is no fluke. On Friday night the beauty, strength and precision displayed throughout Jarrico.Dance’s production earned a standing ovation from an appreciative crowd gathered in the Earl Cameron Theatre.

‘Through the Looking Glass’ featured five female dancers and three male dancers in a two-part presentation. The five women, Anna Clifford, Dawnita Smith, Dominique Willis, Fredricka Hill, and Shaydrina Hassel were all home grown talent, handpicked by Eric Bean Jr. The men of the company included two international dancers from Koresh Dance Company in — Robert Tyler and Micah Geyer, with Eric rounding out the group.

One of the highlights of the night was the all female piece ‘Thoughts’. Shadryina, Dawnita, Dominique, Fredricka, and Anna emerged onto the stage silhouetted under a taupe sheer and remained almost anonymous for the entire piece. The costume designer Rufus Cottman must be commended. They seemed to be dancing out a question that neither they nor us in the audience could place our fingers on, and we were all held in this paradoxical warmth and uncertainty.

The standout performer of the night was undeniably Dawnita Smith. I found myself consciously pulling my eyes away from her and bringing my vision to back to the full stage. If the crowd’s applause is any indication, I was not the only one that felt this way. Dawnita has an effortlessness and strength in her movement that transfixes your gaze. Her joy is palpable.

Every aspect of the show from the lighting and music, to the silent auction and costumes came together with a cohesiveness and attention to detail that is a hallmark of the company. The final full company piece was spectacular. During ‘Fields of Mars’ each dancer raised their intensity to a crescendo that made you lean forward in your seat — by the end you knew they had “left it all on the stage” including puddles of sweat.

As an audience member I felt like I had been invited into a dark dream of movement and sound. The dream was textured by leather and sheer. It weaved in and out of loneliness and hope. In and out of separation and connection. The fact that hundreds of others seated beside me accepted the invitation into this dream made it that much more real and only that much more potent. By the time the final curtain fell I was left with an inspired, almost aching feeling in my heart. It’s hard to describe the feeling that overcomes you when you’re experiencing Jaricco.Dance, but despite the gamut of emotions, one feeling stays with me the entire time...gratitude.