Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre

Swoosh... click... clap, clap... click... clap.... Ole! The strings of the guitar player accompany the rhythm of the flamenco dancers. I couldn't miss this opportunity to see the Mozaico Flamenco Dance company perform at Granville Island as part of All Over the Map series of performances organized by New Works: http://www.newworks.ca

I love the rich vibrant colors of the dresses, the makeup, the hair, the dangling earrings and beautiful flowers. Each dancer brought their own element into the dance. They dance in unison, separately and even compete vying for the attention and applause of the crowd overlooking them. I love the intense emotions the flamenco dance brings out in the dancer. The lowered stance of the dance as they click their heels, moving forward ready to show what they got ending with resounding stomp. I love the flowery gestures with their arms and intricate hand movements. The way their eyes lower and lift up only to glare with fierce intensity or close with utmost resonance is an art in itself. Flamenco is a dance of skill and self-confidence. I feel the energy of the dancers ready for combat as they click their heels and stomp their way to victory.

Photos by Stanley Lau and Yvonne Chew
taken on August 17, 2008

Mozaico Flamenco Dance Theatre
Location: Ron Basford Park, Granville Island
http://www.mozaicoflamenco.com

Kokoro Dance - Ghosts

Eerie and tortured souls drifting in and out of consciousness. This powerful performance by Kokoro Dance is unforgettable. I can still remember the convoluted wrecked silent cries and screams from contorted faces suffering in a vicious cycle of pain as these ghosts performed their dance of memories long ago that probably still haunt them for eternity. Several many ghostly dances were happening around the formation surrounding the bag-pipers with powdered white faces. Those white flowing gowns with long trails of red and black gives the effect of bleeding blood and the blackness of death these wounded souls seem to convey with their painful expressions and contorted bodies. Some bodies lift up in flight as others keel over in suffering. I loved the emotions these tortured souls expressed in their haunting dance of thoughts and emotions trapped in present time. Sometimes, each individual seem in their own world until fleetingly they notice one another, only to drift away again consumed by their emotional state.

Photos by Yvonne Chew
taken on August 3, 2008

Powell Street Festival
Location: Sunrise Market Rooftop, Vancouver
Kokoro Dance - Ghosts
http://www.kokoro.ca

Source Dance Company - Concrete and Glass

Early July 2008, I was excited to catch this wonderful performance by the Source Dance Company at Centennial Theatre. I was completely mesmerized by the myriad of stories in the performance, re-enacting the lives of people behind concrete and glass.

Photos by Yvonne Chew
taken on July 5, 2008

Concrete and Glass
An Original Dance Presentation by The Source Dance Company

Location: Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver
http://www.sourcedanceco.com

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