Untold Stories – Analog Artist Digital World

I went to a preview of Untold Stories presented by Emotions Dance at their dance studio (111 N. Longwood St. Suite 201. Longwood, FL 32750). I arrived a bit early so I got to hear the music while they rehearsed and warmed up while I waited in the lobby. Larissa Humiston did much of the choreography along with Emily Nunez, Katie Masterson, Autumn Goetting, Brooke Shoultz, Stefan Dolbachian and Amparo Padilla. Amparo kept catching my eye with some incredibly athletic dance movements. Some moves defied gravity and reason. A great thing about this dance company as well is that the emotions expressed shine through on the dancer’s faces. In all there were 14 dance routines that spanned the emotions.

Of course sketching dance is a challenge since everyone is moving all the time. Instead I tried to catch the emotion expressed in one routine while following one dancer to try and catch the proper proportions and expressive stance. At times movements repeat and that is when the pencil and pen fly. Titles of the routines hint at the expressive dance to follow, #METOO, followed by Body Love and Unspoken Loss. I focused on a feeling of loss and angst which is something I easily relate to. The final routine, The Hope Within Us, however was up-lifing, hinting that the expressive creative journey has just begun. Much was left behind, it is time to spread your wings and fly.

Untold Stories show times are February 28 and 29, 2020

at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center’s Mandell Theater (812 E Rollins St Orlando FL0

Tickets are $20 General Admission

$18 Students and Seniors

Emotions Dance has a new rehearsal space at 105 Melody Lane west. Casselberry, FL. Founder and choreographer, Larissa Humiston, greeted me in the lobby. Others in the lobby turned out to be members of the Emotions Dance board of directors. They were here to see a full run through of the latest show entitled, UntoId Stories. This show explores stories of everyday life with a message of
courage and hope. The performance engages audiences with stories about
struggles to inspire dialogue and societal change.

The new rehearsal space is cavernous. Larissa let the board know that she has developed so m mad skills as a light in designer. Indeed each dance piece was colorfully lit, giving the individual piece their own color tone from warm to cool. The first dance had two dancers in black tights who wore white kabuki masks. This gave the dance a rather mysterious and primal feel. I was amazed by how many young new dancers were in the company. I didn’t count but there must have been over a dozen. This allowed some dancers to rest and change costume as of he performed. Several powerful dancers from last year were gone, but I was amazed by the new talent.

The black costuming was replace by white flowing that its in the next dance. Earthy weighted movements turned to a graceful flowing routine. The spark that ignites each performance is always an inner emotion. A dancers face and body gesture can show that emotion and bring it to light. I usually identify with one dancers crisp performance and I follow that one dancer and use line to try and rediscover what they are expressing.

In the notes session after the run through, It became clear that different dancers helped choreograph each piece. In one dance, the performers wore loose men’s stiff collared dress shirts. One dancer was bound in a red ribbon. The choreographer explained that it was a story about diabetes which is an invisible affliction. The ribbon was unfurled and it tied all the dancers together with one crimson line.

Other dances felt familiar, like being reunited with old friends. Larissa’s touch must have been in those routines. Angst, hope, and striving all radiated through in the dances. The modern dance was at times gymnastic as dancers tumbled and supported each other. It takes an amazing amount of trust to know you will be caught when to fall.

Untold Stories

Friday Feb 19 and Saturday Feb 20 at 8pm.

Lowndes Shakespeare Center’s Mandell Theatre (812 E. Rollins St. Orlando).

Pre-sale ticketing will be available until Feb 15 GA $18 and
Students/Seniors are $14. At the door- general audience is $20 and Students/Seniors
(65+) are $15