The Village Voice<br/>
Three World Premieres by Dwight
Rhoden Please and Jar<br/>
Complexions<br/>
by Lauren E. Morelli<br/>
August 3rd, 2004<br/><br/>

In a dance universe where technical abilities have reached frightening levels,
Complexions Contemporary Ballet provides a gasp of hope. The dancers are utterly
adept, but humanized by their willingness to dedicate themselves wholly-almost
religiously-to the idiosyncratic, relentless pieces that choreographer Dwight Rhoden
bestows on them. Their weeklong run at NYU's so-new-it-still-smells-like-a-doctor'soffice
Skirball Center featured the world premieres of three pieces, including the
evening-length Anthem. Severed into three sections ("Red/The Force," "White/The
Clearing," "Blue/The Game") and set to a smorgasbord of sounds from Hendrix to
Mingus, Anthem fell victim to the jarring turns in its theme. Only when ash eerily
fluttered from the rafters and settled on the stage floor (during "White," based on
the events of 9-11) did I feel myself exhale. The rest of the evening I held my
breath, waiting for a climax that never came.<br/><br/>
Climaxes arrived in droves during the second program of mixed repertoire. Rhoden's
style-ballet peppered with bird-like nods and spiraling twists of the wrists-was a
fusion that brought the audience to its knees (and feet). Desmond Richardson (coartistic
director alongside Rhoden) added the perfect spice to the aesthetic melting
pot: The duet he shares with the impeccable Sandra Brown during Irreverent
Tingle-she on point, he intent on rescuing her-overflowed with their innate
understanding of Rhoden's vision. Other luminaries appeared as well. Prince Credell's
leaps and throws devoured space in Growth; it seemed shocking that one so thickly
muscled could move with such flexibility and suppleness.<br/><br/>
Pretty Gritty Suite was the other joy of the night. In this premiere, Rhoden has found
his Revelations. Nina Simone pumped through the speakers; the dancers brandished
tambourines and settled into powerful symmetrical formations. What fun to watch
artists who love their craft so unapologetically!