Hybrid troupe is so modern that it rocks<br/>
Jane Lott<br/>
Marin Independent-Journal Article Launched: 04/04/2008 01:00:49 AM PDT<br/><br/>

If the word "ballet" makes you think of little girls in pink tutus pirouetting through "Swan Lake," you might want to reconsider and attend the performance at Marin Center on Saturday.<br/><br/>

These are not the sweet Christmas toys of "The Nutcracker," but passionate interpreters of human emotion. The music ranges from rhythmic, earthy and primal to blues and romantic era classical. The dancing - a mixture of ballet, gymnastics and downright amazing physical feats - is virtuosic a la Cirque du Soleil.<br/><br/>

The combination is compelling - so much so that when Complexions performed in Wisconsin earlier this month, the audience was dancing by the end of the show. Emily Smolarek of the University of Wisconsin-Madison student newspaper wrote, "From sexy embraces to head banging, I never knew ballet could be so much fun."<br/><br/>

Before coming together to found Complexions, artistic directors Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson both achieved individual acclaim. The New York Times identified Rhoden as "one of the most sought-out choreographers of the day," and named Richardson "one of the great modern dancers of his time."<br/><br/>

In 1994, with the intention of sharing their vision of diversity and multiculturalism through the medium of dance, they assembled a troupe of eight women and eight men whose study is grounded in classical dance, supported by musicians, choreographers, lighting designers, costume designers, ballet master and stage manager - to create a multicultural American dance company.<br/><br/>

It now numbers almost two dozen.<br/><br/>

Complexions immediately garnered critical acclaim and awards, performing sold-out shows in New York City and then around the world. In addition to spreading the concept of multiculturalism in dance, the group's mission has been to bring to life the message that "Complexions is more than dance ƒ it is language itself."<br/><br/>

The language of the Marin performance features three acts set off by different genres of music. In Act I, Rhoden has choreographed the music of the great romantic pianist Frederic Chopin in "Dear Frederic," a piece he calls "an investigation of freedom within form." In this piece, he says, he explored his fascination "with the whimsy Chopin creates within a structural framework, an effect that produces the capricious nature of his music."<br/><br/>

Act II switches gears to blues, alternative and rock, with five dances based on the music of such musicians as pop star John Mayer and eclectic rockers the White Stripes - not names normally associated with ballet.<br/><br/>

The last act offers an excerpt of "Chapters Suite," which, like most of the pieces in the program, is choreographed by Rhoden. This dance is performed to the music of Marvin Gaye and no doubt is what had the audience in Madison dancing in the aisles.<br/><br/>

Not Miss Sackville-West's School of Ballet for Girls, Complexions puts a new complexion on modern dance.<br/><br/>

IF YOU GO<br/><br/>

Who: Complexions Contemporary Ballet<br/><br/>

What: Three acts of dance performed to music ranging from Chopin to Marvin Gaye<br/><br/>

When: 8 p.m. Saturday<br/><br/>

Where: Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael<br/><br/>

Tickets: $18-$40<br/><br/>

Information: 499-6800, www.marincenter.org, www.complexionsdance.org, www.ticketmaster.com<br/><br/>