The New York Times<br/>

DANCE REVIEW; Ballet or Modern, It's the High-Voltage
Choreography That Countss<br/>
By JACK ANDERSONs<br/>
Published: November 25, 2002<br/><br/>

Complexions, the dance company directed by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond
Richardson offered a gala program called ''Live and Let Dance'' on Saturday night
at the Hudson Theater. It was full of life and the virtuosic dancing never seemed
to stop. The troupe thrives on high-voltage choreography and its dancers, trained
in both balletic and modern-dance techniques, know how to sweep across the
stage in gales of energy.<br/><br/>
The gala, which featured brief works and excerpts from longer ones, reflected the
desire of the troupe's directors to broaden the repertory. It was also noteworthy
for celebrating the 25th year in dance of Sarita Allen, for many years a
distinguished leading dancer of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and now an
artist in residence with Complexions.<br/><br/>
In a speech of tribute the actress and dancer Carmen de Lavallade summed up
Ms. Allen by saying, ''She is poetry.'' Ms. Allen was passionately poetic in two
duets by Mr. Rhoden. She and Thaddeus Davis portrayed two strong-willed
people in ''Sweet Low Rise,'' a premiere, for which Justin Kisor was the on-stage
trumpeter. And Ms. Allen and Marc Mann made ''Please, Please, Please'' appear
charged with erotic electricity.<br/><br/>
There were also two new group pieces by Mr. Rhoden. In ''Loop & Gesture,''
individuals kept detaching themselves from a steadily pacing line of people to
move in intricate and unpredictable ways on their own. ''Red'' hurtled along, as if
the dancers were possessed by some formidable power beyond themselves.<br/><br/>
Although Complexions has always emphasized Mr. Rhoden's creations, it is now
also displaying its versatility by staging works by other choreographers. The
troupe has taken William Forsythe's sharp ''Herman Schmerman'' pas de deux
into the repertory and it was given a crackling interpretation by Francesca Harper
and Mr. Richardson.<br/><br/>

Two company members contributed new pieces. Uri Sands cast Mucuy Bolles and
Marden Ramos as struggling lovers in his ''Work VIII.'' Mr. Davis's ''Let the Fools
Stand in Line'' sent an ensemble moving through one storm of steps after
another.<br/><br/>
Several older dances by Mr. Rhoden were also performed. ''Lately'' was a sultry
duet for Sandra Brown and Mr. Sands. Michael Thomas and Mr. Davis were
fervent in ''Givin' Up.'' Mr. Richardson appeared to be in the midst of a struggle
in ''Solo.'' Ms. Brown and Seth Delgrasso danced an ardent ''Ave Maria.'' And
''New World Symphony,'' from ''Higher Ground,'' brought the evening to a
celebratory conclusion.<br/><br/>
Phylicia Rashad and Courtney B. Vance served as hosts for the occasion.