BODY TRAFFIC’S GORGEOUS SWAN SONG AT THE WALLIS

This is more an homage to LA’s premiere dance company, BodyTraffic, than it is a review of their farewell performance. Even as the latter, it’s an all-positive one.

Before I left for the Wallis to see their Los Angeles swan song last Saturday, I texted someone, “Will you be there today? I’ll bring the tissues.” And thank goodness I did. (Bring the tissues, not text the guy.) The entire presentation was sooo emotional.

I don’t know the reasons for BodyTraffic to be closing after twenty years, but, of course, along with their many fans, I wish it weren’t so. However, since it is the reality, I wish the best of luck going forward to everybody involved, especially these amazing dancers. It would be a shame if they didn’t all get other gigs right away. As I always declare, dancers are the most talented of all artists, yet they have the fewest opportunities. I just hate that situation!

But let’s not get negative. Let’s focus on BodyTraffic’s last ever performance at the Wallis in Beverly Hills, which it appears, (from brief messages the company members shared that day, which I’ll elaborate on in a moment,) they consider to be their “home.”

I truly cannot imagine better dancers than this group, so I have to name them all: Husband-and-wife duo Joan Rodriguez and Katie García, her sister Becky Garcia, Brenan Gonzalez, Jordyn Santiago, Pedro Garcia, Grecia Cruz, and, of course, my all-time favorite dancer, Chandler Davidson.

Actually, all the dancers are so excellent that my eyes didn’t even single Chandler out until he did one leap in the first number that made me gasp out loud and gave me chills. From that one move! And then I realized just whom I was admiring. Even if I hadn’t already been in love with his dancing, I would be now. He knocked my socks off once again.

I really don’t know how to convey his magnificence to you, but part of it is that Chandler dances sooo much bigger than his body. While I’m watching him perform, I always perceive him as a giant, and then I saw this little skinny guy in their video, and I’m impressed on a whole other level.

Now, let me tell you about said video. For about fifteen minutes before the show began, as we were taking our seats, there was a silent video playing on the giant screen on stage. It was of BodyTraffic’s Artistic Director and Co-Founder, Tina Finkelman Berkett, and the eight dancers, taking turns sitting on a bench and displaying cards with people they’re thanking for support over the past two decades. Occasionally we’d see one or two of them together, or hugging as they switched places, and always smiling. It was all so beautiful that I wished I had gotten into my seat even earlier.

Each of the three performances at the Wallis last weekend featured a couple of shared programs along with one or two different ones. If I had not been booked elsewhere on two of those dates, I would have loved to attend all three performances. But I got extra-lucky with the one I chose because the first number, Blue Until June, choreographed by Trey McIntyre, with music by Etta James, is one I had never seen before, and it was incredible.

The second number, Shared Ground, was also new to me, and I adored it! Most of it was danced to my favorite piece of classical music ever, Ravel’s Bolero. It’s what British figure skaters Torvill and Dean skated to for their iconic Olympics performance that won them the Gold Medal in 1984, and changed Ice Dancing, for the better and forever after. So I didn’t think I could love any other artists performing to it. But BodyTraffic’s number, choreographed by Fernando Hernando Magadan, to that classic music lived up to Torvill and Dean. I cannot give higher praise than that. It was stunning!

All three nights ended with Richard Siegal’s o2Joy, danced to songs by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday and others of their ilk. When I first saw this one in 2018, I wrote, “The hallmark of o2Joy is really joyful and colorful dancing, so, of course, I adored it. It was the perfect ending to the leave-them-wanting-more evening of dance.” How ironic then that now it was the very last bit from BodyTraffic that any of us will ever see, and it still left me wanting more!

The reason that I know my exact review from back then, (which was actually the very first time I had ever seen BodyTraffic,) is that, as my own private tribute to them, I recently looked through all my reviews of the company over the years. And in doing so, I realized something. Everything about their final show was a bit “more” than ever before. The dancers I had been admiring through the years who are still with the company looked leaner and tighter, and all their moves appeared to be the crispest ever. These people know how to go out with a bang!

I have to add one little interesting thing that I’m just guessing at, but my detective mind believes I am correct about it. As Mr. X and I were sitting in the lobby before the show, the most exuberant young girl came rushing down the steps, so excited for the show. She was rocking shiny shoes and angel wings, and Mr. X and I both enjoyed seeing little Sofia running happily around. (We knew her name because a cute guy, who I assumed is her father, and a boy who is perhaps her brother, were trying to wrangle her.) And then, at intermission, I semi-deduced that she is the daughter of BodyTraffic’s Tina Finkelman Berkett. I really think I am correct, but even if not, I want to give that little girl a shout-out—we should all love life as much as she apparently does! (And Sofia—I was as excited for this show as you were!)

And now I can’t believe we’re never going to see the uber-impressive BodyTraffic at the Wallis, nor anywhere in Los Angeles, ever again! But luckily for some of you, they still have a few dates left around the country on their farewell tour, including two of my favorite cities, Aspen and Santa Fe. So try to see them if you can. Here’s their sked: www.bodytraffic.com/performances/upcoming-shows.

And I strongly suggest that everyone always check-out the Wallis’ schedule because you’re sure to find something wonderful there. Here’s their site: thewallis.org.