Spring Break
Troupes rise to the occasion with 'Standing O!'
by Wei Huan Chen
Staff Writer
Arts | 3/10/09
Posted online at 12:22 AM EST on 3/10/09
In Hebrew, "b'yachad" means "together." Sometimes, a combination of diverse elements can evoke new meaning and emotion not achievable by taking separate parts individually. Last Saturday in Levin Ballroom, this phenomenon occurred at the Israeli folk dance troupe's 12th annual dance showcase, Standing O! Performances by B'yachad, Adagio Dance Ensemble, Hooked on Tap and Jewish Fella A Cappella blended visual and aural expression to inspire sensations that went beyond the eyes and ears, giving the audience an enjoyable and magical experience.
B'yachad introduced the show with "Kol Hakoach," a well-rehearsed piece at a moderate tempo that did not dazzle the audience but rather put them into the subtle and relaxed feel of Israeli folk dance. Although I could not understand the lyrics of the song (the title of which translates to All the Strength), I could see in the dancers' smiles and rolling motions that there is some underlying, inspiring message behind the music.
Adagio Dance Ensemble quickly followed with "Fast As You Can," a piece that came much closer to stunning the audience with its combination of effective lighting and expert technique in the dancers. The Ensemble, which mostly consists of advanced upperclassmen, presented a fiery energy in their lyrical and jazz styles not found in traditional Israeli dance.
B'yachad returned to the stage for the next two dances, "Yashkef" and "Keren Or." The latter had an impressively dark and mysterious vibe accentuated by expertly timed lighting. For example, in a middle segment the lights suddenly turned an extremely dark purple that almost hurt viewers' eyes. The dancers became silhouetted figures that merged in and out of the darkness. Then they picked up candles in each hand, giving the relieved eye something to focus on in the midst of the painful purple backdrop.
Now, for something completely different, Hooked on Tap followed, heating up the stage with their syncopated beats in the quirky "Swingset." Instead of entrancing the viewer with colors, the tap dancers used energetic beats to drive the piece. The most striking part of Jenna Gondelman '09 and Catherine Wagner's '09 choreography was the incorporation of the entire body in the dance rather than concentrating just on the feet.
B'yachad introduced the show with "Kol Hakoach," a well-rehearsed piece at a moderate tempo that did not dazzle the audience but rather put them into the subtle and relaxed feel of Israeli folk dance. Although I could not understand the lyrics of the song (the title of which translates to All the Strength), I could see in the dancers' smiles and rolling motions that there is some underlying, inspiring message behind the music.
Adagio Dance Ensemble quickly followed with "Fast As You Can," a piece that came much closer to stunning the audience with its combination of effective lighting and expert technique in the dancers. The Ensemble, which mostly consists of advanced upperclassmen, presented a fiery energy in their lyrical and jazz styles not found in traditional Israeli dance.
B'yachad returned to the stage for the next two dances, "Yashkef" and "Keren Or." The latter had an impressively dark and mysterious vibe accentuated by expertly timed lighting. For example, in a middle segment the lights suddenly turned an extremely dark purple that almost hurt viewers' eyes. The dancers became silhouetted figures that merged in and out of the darkness. Then they picked up candles in each hand, giving the relieved eye something to focus on in the midst of the painful purple backdrop.
Now, for something completely different, Hooked on Tap followed, heating up the stage with their syncopated beats in the quirky "Swingset." Instead of entrancing the viewer with colors, the tap dancers used energetic beats to drive the piece. The most striking part of Jenna Gondelman '09 and Catherine Wagner's '09 choreography was the incorporation of the entire body in the dance rather than concentrating just on the feet.
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