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Complexions Contemporary Ballet Lives Up to Its Name
Dance company is on pointe with innovation that leads the industry
Complexions Contemporary Ballet (Photo: Dahlen)
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Many companies strive for seamless diversity—in their medium, orchestrations, even their dancers—but perhaps none has achieved it quite so effortlessly as Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Founded in New York in 1994 by former Alvin Ailey darlings Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, the company has carved out a niche in the highly competitive dance world through multiculturalism. Complexions blends modern and classical disciplines, worldviews and innovative choreography. In fact, they’ve been called “one of America’s only truly integrated dance companies.” Now they come to the Joyce Theater as part of a dynamic fall season.
Complexions’ artistic pedigree is impeccable. Rhoden, who has choreographed over 60 ballets for the company, began his dancing career at 17 while studying acting, and went on to perform with prestigious companies like the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Joffrey Ballet. His smoothness of line and individualized touch with the performers lends a new level of intimacy and intensity to each piece.
Co-artistic director Richardson is equally well-known for modern, classical and contemporary dance, having performed with a diverse grouping of companies and shows like the San Francisco Ballet, in Broadway’s Fosse and with artists like Prince and Madonna.
The rich backgrounds of Rhoden and Richardson are the cornerstone of the company’s strength. Though they’re not tethered by tradition, the pair hold a vast understanding and appreciation for technique, allowing their arsenal of dancers to explode onto the stage to anything from Bach to U2.
In a preview for the performance at the Joyce, a man and woman dance a pas de deux that strays from traditional roles of masculine dominance and frail femininity. The pair seem to orbit a central point somewhere between their bodies, one constantly relying on the other for balance and momentum. This is why Complexions is an exciting addition to the dance world: the ability to tear down barriers and stereotypes while retaining a soft beauty and grace.
Soon celebrating its fifteenth anniversary, it’s unimaginable what Complexions will accomplish next. An established force in the dance world, boundaries are this company’s to break.