LUX AETERNA DANCE COMPANY—EPONYM
When I wrote the preview of this dance company at Theatre Raymond Kabbaz last week, I knew it would be good, but I had no idea of the level of excellence we were in for!
Teresa Barcelo and
Jacob Lyons. Photo by Dan Krauss, courtesy of Lux Aeterna Dance Company.
This group is made up of five performers, all with truly amazing skills. And because this theater is so intimate, we audience members got to experience their talents pretty up-close. And I have a feeling that this particular program, Eponym, brought out the absolute best in each and every one of them. It must have been unbelievably challenging to choreograph.
The troupe is led by artistic director and choreographer Jacob “Kujo” Lyons, with the rest of the cast being Teresa “Toogie” Barcelo, Lamonte “Tales” Goode, Wendy “Wen Rock” Lam, and my personal favorite, Gev Manoukian. (Hey—where’s his funny middle moniker?!)
Gev Manoukian and Teresa Barcelo. Photo by Dan Krauss, courtesy of Lux Aeterna Dance Company.
Speaking of Gev, let me just tell you a little bit about him, from personal experience. He was one of my favorites on Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance, where he made the Top 10. I subsequently saw him perform in Ballroom With a Twist, here in Los Angeles. And I met him at the after-party for that show. I was so pleased to discover that he was the absolutely adorable guy he was on TV! Had I known that he was now dancing with the Lux Aeterna Company, I would have definitely let you know that beforehand. But this way, it was a happy surprise to walk into the auditorium and see him up there on stage, perhaps even more talented than he was a few years ago. I feel he’s really grown as a dancer. (Unfortunately, I’ve also grown, but as someone who sits on the couch watching the dancers, if you get my drift.)
In the program, the show order is listed as three separate pieces, but they seem to flow into each other, and the hour and a half just flew by. (Yeah, it flew by for the audience, but I wonder what it felt like for these dancers who were putting out such Herculean efforts!) We were treated to not only dance, but silks, hand balancing, aerial straps, and even a guy on a flying pole! I seriously don’t know how these people can control their bodies like they do. It was all downright mind-boggling.
People keep asking me what style of dance this was, and, even as a former dancer myself, I don’t feel I can exactly categorize it. It’s what to me is the very definition of “Modern Dance,” even though that genre doesn’t seem to exist anymore. The old “modern dance” of Martha Graham’s era is now labeled “Contemporary,” and has gone so much beyond what dancers were doing then. But to me, what Lux Aeterna does is true modern dance because it entails every style of today! There were elements of contemporary dance, but there was also a bit of break-dancing, some hip-hop, and even a bit of krump! It was all really interesting.
Lamonte Goode. Photo by Dan Krauss, courtesy of Lux Aeterna Dance Company.
What Lamonte Goode did in his solo section was a cross to me between modern dance, hand balancing, and contortion. (Trust me on the contortion part; when I was The Divided Lady in the circus back in the day, getting cut-up in a box, they billed me as a “world-famous contortionist,” and, in the understatement of the year, let me tell you that what I did could not hold a candle to this guy! Not even a flicker.)
One thing I especially took note of was how Teresa Barcelo moved her hands and fingers. I think that this girl can isolate every single muscle in her entire body! As she was holding onto an overhead hoop, (technically called a “lyra,”) and walking her legs up in the air, as though it was the easiest thing in the world, she also moved her hands in the most beautiful manner. I was really impressed with her entire presentation.
Ricardo Rodriguez, Jr. Photo by Dan Krauss, courtesy of Lux Aeterna Dance Company.
The company was joined that evening by guest performer Ricardo “Boogie Frantick” Rodriguez, Jr., who did a super slow-mo popping number. I still can’t understand how he did what he did.
The weird thing is that not one of these people looks like a dancer. If they were on What’s My Line, (or whatever that old show is where the panel has to guess what your job is,) I don’t think “dancer” would be the first guess for any of the six. That makes what they do even more mind-blowing than it already is. [Note: I’m not saying they don’t look good; they’re all in incredible shape! All I mean is that they look more sturdy and muscular than what I think of as a prototypical dancer.]
If you ever get the chance to see the Lux Aeterna Dance Company, no matter what show they are performing, nor at what venue, I am advising you right now to take that opportunity! I know I will.
Wendy Lam and Jacob Lyons on duo straps. Photo by Dan Krauss, courtesy of Lux Aeterna Dance Company.
And speaking of venue, I can imagine that we’d get to see them, or any other performers, in a more perfect space. I’ve written about it before, but let me state it again: Theatre Raymond Kabbaz is now officially my favorite theater in Los Angeles. It’s known for special one-night-only performances, (sometimes two,) so I suggest you check-out their website below for info on the rest of this seasons’s line-up.
I don’t know if the theatre does something special for every show, but for this one, they had a no-host champagne bar set-up on the patio, (it is a French theatre, after all,) and there was one food truck right in front of the theater for before and after, which was a brilliant idea. There was also a display of Timothee de Place’s oil paintings, which featured Los Angeles highways. Mr. X and I got to chat with him for a while before the show, and it was a very enlightening conversation.
So there you have it; an excellent dance show, in an excellent theater, with excellent extras outside. I call that a win-win-win.
Theatre Raymond Kabbaz
10361 W Pico Blvd. West Los Angeles 310-286-0553
www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com
