Prodigious Songcraft Blooms in Sarah Jarosz - The Austin Chronicle

CALENDAR ( COMMUNITY SPORTS ARTS FILM MUSIC) LISTINGSVoice DanceCompanyinaugural performance of Voice DanceCompany, dancers don’t do this in the workof choreographer and Artistic Director GinaPatterson. Nor do they do a lot of fan kicks.Instead, ballet and the classical line are thebasis for innovative contemporary movementthat is rarely predictable. Performed by agroup of very good dancers hand-picked byPatterson from far and wide, the selection ofher new and recent work demonstrated thatclassically based contemporary dance hasa pulse – it’s alive! – and hinted at furtherdevelopment to come.The first half of the program was a series of10 loosely connected segments, some short,some shorter. In “In Time,” a Latin-flavoredsolo, the quiet intensity of Ballet Austin dancerMichelle Thompson was utilized perfectly. Sooften with attempts at seductive Latin style,the wrists and hands are flipped aroundgrotesquely, resulting in caricature. But here,everything below the forearms was somewhatdetached and relaxed, giving the movementthe internal heat and outward calm that marksauthentic Latin styles as well as updating itwith Thompson’s own cool athleticism.Patterson herself danced in one piece,“Elephant Eyes,” a duet with her husband andVoice co-founder Eric Midgley. With subtle movementslike the gradual flex of every muscle inthe foot, a mood of anguish infused their fluid,sure partnering. Later, in “Blindsided,” MasaKolar and Chris Hannon performed a very differentduet with a lot of head-initiated contact: Hishead on her back pushed her across the stage;they ran with heads pressed together andpitched forward; she caught him at the neck tostop him from falling forward. The result wassweetness plus a bit of violence. At times inboth duets, the couples reminded me of icedancers: One moment they’re side by side,doing the same thing, then all of a sudden he’sfacing another direction and she’s across therink landing a triple lutz. And you don’t knowhow it happened, because it’s so darn smooth.Zach Theatre Kleberg StageJan. 9If you’ve seen any contemporary dance at all, you know how,too often, a movement sequence is broken when the dancerstiffly snaps into ballet mode to prepare for a classical step:“OK, I’m going to do a pirouette now.” As evidenced by thePatterson’s fresh, unforced humor, andthe dancers’ ability to execute it perfectly,was a happy surprise throughout the evening,but especially so in “Balkan Chicks,”a section in which Kolar and Rebecca Niziolchallenged each other in rapid movementseries on and around orange chairs fromyour high school detention hall. Hannon,looking dazed, walked the perimeter of thestage and at times merged into the fun. Aswith her smooth transitions in partnering,Patterson has the ability to move the dancersseamlessly in and out of groups andfrom unison to individual movement.“Your Provision” was a sensual, etherealduet for Maggie Small and FernandoSabino, the most classical of the dancers.Occasionally it seemed that he was afigment of her imagination, sparked by amysterious book she had been reading atthe beginning of the piece; other times, theduet had the quality of a Romeo and Julietbalcony scene. At one moment, the pairknelt, facing upstage, at a low table, as ifin marriage. Near the end of the piece, asthey walked upstage, she fell into a tremendousbackbend, hanging her long, waiflikebody over his arm for a second beforehe righted her.For the second half of the program,Patterson restaged her sextet “My Witness,”commissioned by DanceWorks Chicago lastMarch. Led by Niziol, who created the rolein Chicago, and Midgley, the dancers sharedthe stage with the Chicago folk band Sons ofthe Never Wrong, whose tunes ranged fromquirky to wistful. My favorite section was onefor three couples, danced to a song whoselyrics can be summarized as “You’re a crazydude, but I love you anyway.” It was a cheekytake on the romantic duet – a genre representedquite a bit in the program, but in waysvaried and innovative, current and generallyrelatable. And that’s everything you need inchoreography, right there. – Jonelle SeitzcomedyIN THE CLUBSCAP CITY COMEDY 8120 Research #100,467-2333. Daily, 7pm-1am. www.capcitycomedy.com.Matt Braunger: Man’s supposed to be funny,supposed to be real funny, whether he’s goingon about Dalmatians, owls, or the absurdhuman animals he’s dealt with. Successful gigsat Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival, appearanceson the Letterman show, MADtv and more:evidence, friend, evidence in the bag. Matt Williswill try to match Braunger’s awesomeness. Jan.14-16. Thu., 8pm; Fri.-Sat., 8 & 10:30pm.Cap City Open Mic: Hey, it could be you up thereslaying your friends and neighbors as they’ve slainyou. Sundays, 8pm. Free with college ID.COLDTOWNE THEATER 4803-B Airport, 524-2807.www.coldtownetheater.com.The Week in Coldness: The fierce improv artists ofParallelogramophonograph bring their inspired anticsto the local stage, abetted by the Draft. Thu., 8pm.UpTowne Sketch comedy, homegrown. Thu., 10pm.Eye for an iPhone is a Second City-style sketchshow led by the talented and happily hirsute DaveBuckman. Fri., 8pm. Punchline Stand-up comedy,ColdTowne style: Some of Austin’s best. Fri., 10pm.Boy Toy presents a free show, featuring that improvclassic, the Harold. Sat., 7pm. Stool Pigeon goesradioactive with Becca Peterson and Charlie Hodgejump-starting the night with a thrice-told tale. Sat.,8pm. Cage Match Two improv teams go all luchalibre on each other for your grins and giggles. Sat.,9pm. Stone Cold Improv features the ColdTownersand Look Cookie. Sat., 10pm. The Late Night Showsizzles with Midnight Society and Northshore Local.Sat., 11pm. ColdTowne All-Stars is a free show withthe, ah, all-stars of ColdTowne and Unfurled. Sun.,7pm. Murphy and the Jam is also free. Sun., 8:30pm.ESTHER’S POOL 525 E. Sixth, 320-0553.www.esthersfollies.com.Esther’s Follies Esther’s popular jesters arestarting the New Year off with their musical satireand lively vaudeville, Texas-style! The magicof Ray Anderson, topical satires on the news ofthe day, and musical production numbers beginthis decade in hilarity right there on Sixth Street.Reservations highly recommended. Thu., 8pm; Fri.-Sat., 8 & 10pm. $20 (discounts available Thursdays& Fridays for seniors, students, military). Additional$5 for special reserved seats.THE HIDEOUT THEATRE 617 Congress, 443-3688.www.hideouttheatre.com.Thursday: Oh, how Threefer Madness brings youa trio of improv troupes! Oh, how they work withouta script! 8pm. $3.Friday: This Week Tonight brings you fast and furiousimprov based on current headlines, slicing and dicingthe latest scandals and more. 8pm. $10. The DoubleBarrel features two troupes of the-devil-only-knowswhatfor your late-night amusement. 10pm. $10.Saturday: Austin Secrets Every week, an improvisationalexploration of the hidden things thatdefine who we are, based on secrets sent in anonymouslyby your friends and neighbors – maybeSO! MANY! DANCE! CLASSES!So many, in fact, that we can’t print them every week. But look for them herethe third week of each month – and always online at austinchronicle.com.TWO LEFT FEETADVANCED BALLET FOR AGES 13 AND OLDERTen-year Tapestry resident Stacie Stalmach bringsmore than 15 years of teaching and performanceexperience to the class. Mondays, 6-7:30pm. TapestryDance Company, 2302 Western Trails, 474-9864. $16walk-in fee, discounts available for students, professionals.www.tapestry.org.ARGENTINE TANGO CLASSES Laura Pellegrino offersongoing classes for beginners, experts, and you inbetweenersin her country’s sexy dance of record.Khabele Studio, 701 W. Seventh. Full-time universitystudents receive 50% discount. www.tangointexas.com.AUSTIN BALLROOM DANCERS ABD sponsors ballroomdancing with DJ’d music weekly, year-round.Saturdays, 7:30-11pm. Austin Uptown Dance, 8868Research, 989-3939. www.austinballroomdancers.org.AUSTIN BARN DANCERS: CONTRA DANCE Traditionalsocial dances to live music every week. You don’t needa partner, and every dance will be taught before youstride out on your own. Wednesdays, 7:30pm. HancockRecreation Center, 811 E. 41st, 453-4225. $3.www.cityofaustin.org/parks/hancock.htm.AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION: DANCE &GYMNASTICS CLASSES FOR CHILDREN DanceAssociates presents classes for kids ages 24months and up in a variety of locations around town.Dance, gymnastics, and movement classes aretaught with a creative, positive approach at threelocations around town. See website for details. 323-6013. www.danceassociatesaustin.com.AUSTIN SCANDINAVIAN DANCING Couples dancesfrom Norway and Sweden involve turning, unusualfigures, and fabulous music. No partner needed;wear slick-soled shoes. Wednesdays. 7:30pm, class;8-9:45pm, dance. Hancock Recreation Center,811 E. 41st, 454-0598. $3. www.austinscandi.org.AUSTIN SWING SYNDICATE A couple hundred swingershit the dance floor once a week for DJ-spun soundsof past blasts. A beginners’ lesson starts the evening.Thursdays, 8pm-12mid. Texas Federation of Women’sClubs Ballroom, 2312 San Gabriel, 476-5845.$5 ($2, members). www.austinswingsyndicate.org.AUSTIN THIRD SATURDAY CONTRA DANCE All thedances are taught and called, and there’s live musicat each dance. Every third Saturday: 7:30pm, instruction;8-11pm, dance. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church,3501 Red River, 453-8936. $8 ($7, AFTM; $5, students).www.austincontradance.org.AUSTIN UPTOWN DANCE: COUNTRY WESTERN &SWING DANCE PARTY This smoke-free dance partygets you kickin’ up your heels (or sliding themacross the bamboo dance floor) as Kristy spins C&Wfaves. Come early for the lesson! Sundays, 6-9pm(walk-in two-step classes, 5-6pm). Austin Uptown Dance,8868 Research #706. $5 ($15, walk-in special withclasses). www.austinuptowndance.com.BALLET AFRIQUE DANCE CLASSES Ballet Afrique’sdance studio is now open and offering a wide varietyof classes. See website for details. 3111 Manor Rd.,228-7060. www.balletafrique.org.BELLY-DANCE CLASSES WITH TWYLA GRACETwyla of Twyla & the Twilight Star Ensemble teachesongoing classes in belly dance. Call or write fordetails. Mon. & Wed., 8:30-9:30pm, 12687 Researchat Oak Knoll, 971-0188. www.twylabellydance.com.BELLY DANCE WITH FINGER CYMBALS StaceyLizette teaches all levels of dancers, using differentcymbal rhythms with a focus on fluidity of hand andarm movements. (Finger cymbals are available forpurchase or loan.) Mondays, 7:30-8:30pm.Tapestry Dance Company, 2302 Western Trails.www.staceylizette.net.BOLLYWOOD DANCE CLASSES Learn Indian dancestyles. Bhangra, classical, and more. 432-5716.Prices vary. Details at www.bollywoodshake.com.BRASS OVARIES POLE DANCING Ongoing classesfor aerial hoop and static/spinning pole dance.Beginners and expert dancers are invited to learnfrom world-famous instructors. For more info, grooveover to www.brassovariespoledancing.com. 477-POLE.CONTACT IMPROVISATION DANCE JAMSParticipants move in and out of contact with one ormore people through a common center of gravity. Allare welcome. Tuesdays, 8-10pm; Sundays, 4:30-6pm.Austin Yoga School, 1122-C S. Lamar. $5.DANCE ASSOCIATES AND AUSTIN PARD: DANCECLASSES Kids (ages 24 months and older) can participatein dance, gymnastics, and movement classesall over town. See website for details. 323-6838.www.danceassociatesaustin.com.58 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E JANUARY 15, 2010 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m