This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, June 20, 2013 - As of this weekend, Big Muddy Dance Companywill have completed two full seasons of dance in St. Louis. To end its second season, the group of now 14 dancers will present a diverse body of work with “Invigorate,” which will be performed at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 20, Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22.
The evenings include new and classic works from a number of choreographers.
Lou Conte, founder of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, created a ’40s technical swing, which provides one mood says Erin Warner, executive director and a company dancer. “Group Therapy” by Harrison McEldowney is a comedic piece, she says, featuring couples in a series of duets.
There’s a quirky and athletic piece by St. Louis choreographer Kameron Saunders. Another local connection can be found in “The Beat,” an original work by Kirven Boyd and Antonio Douthit from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
“This is a bit of a ‘hello, how you are?’ kind of piece,” Warner says.
“The Band,” by Lauri Stallings, is a 25-minute piece, Warner says, that’s “very contemporary, but it’s got all sorts of different styles within it. There are going to be all sorts of surprises with this piece.” Stallings, who is the artistic director of Glo Atlanta, encompasses a style that shows where contemporary dance is heading, Warner says, pushing above and beyond what’s been done before.
“It’s really taken the whole company to another level.”
And “Nothing Changes” by Brandon DiCriscio is a hard-hitting contemporary piece that feels emotionally intense, Warner says.
The diverse mix of styles should appeal to everyone, she says, and that’s part of the mission of Big Muddy.
“Our main goal as a company is to provide accessible productions,” she says. “We really want to be able to reach out to the typical Cardinals’ fan who has never see a dance performance.”
And because the show offers so many different pieces, she says, there should be something for everyone.
Tickets for “Invigorate” cost $22. At a pre-show gala on June 20, The Big Muddy Ball, Warner says the company will unveil what’s to come for its third season. In St. Louis, she says, the dance community continues to rise to new levels.
“We’re really excited to be a part of that.”