![\"Courtney](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GEMS-byJadeEllis-highres-3-e1761770219289.jpg\")
<\/a>Courtney Conovan. Photo by Jade Ellis.<\/p><\/div>\n
This<\/em> program was comprised of a trio of offerings that were created in 2013-2016\u2014Reflections<\/em>, Hearts & Arrows<\/em>, and On the Other Side<\/em>\u2014under the overall title umbrella, Gems<\/em>. To my<\/em> mind, these pieces are not<\/em> about the concept of actual gemstones<\/em>, so perhaps they\u2019re about unique entities, such as when a friend, after witnessing Mr. X\u2019s kindness to her sister, told me that my bae \u201cis a gem!\u201d Or maybe these works are considered gems of the dance world<\/em>, (which I believe is how the entire company<\/em> is viewed.)<\/p>\n I can\u2019t believe I\u2019m going so deep into this analysis! The more simple review of Gems<\/em> is that I adored the third number and enjoyed the middle one, but the first just didn’t get to me. (Mr. X felt the same. A few minutes into the second<\/em> act, I whispered, \u201cThis one is soooo much better than the first,\u201d to which he replied with a very definitive, \u201cDefinitely!!!\u201d)<\/p>\n The curtain call for Reflections: (L-R) Clay Koonar, Courtney Conovan, Daphne Fernberger, Noah Wang, and Shu Kinouch. However, as much as I greatly admired all the dancing<\/em>, I had no idea what any of it meant<\/em>. As I\u2019ve stated in several previous dance show reviews, I need to know what a dance is about<\/em> if the choreographer was going for a narrative<\/em>, as opposed to simply beauty<\/em>. No explanations were in the Wallis\u2019 program, so it was just all about the movement to me. Gorgeous<\/em> movement, but I didn\u2019t know the purpose<\/em> of any of it, which made my mind engage a bit less. (When I researched the pieces later, I still<\/em> didn\u2019t get any of it.)<\/p>\n For example, during the night\u2019s opener, my least favorite section, 2013\u2019s Reflections<\/em>, the backdrop was first a giant \u201cSTAY\u201d and then a giant \u201cGO\u201d and then back to \u201cSTAY.\u201d I didn\u2019t see the meaning of it. So I just concentrated on the dancers themselves, whose work is a wonder. I kept reflecting on the decades of training that brought them to this exquisite point.<\/p>\n Here are some of my other notes on 2013\u2019s Reflections<\/em>:<\/p>\n Outside of Tommy Tune, I never saw such a tall male dancer as Noah Wang! He\u2019s captivating. And has the most perfect body ever.<\/p>\n Shu Kinouchi. Photo by SkyeVarga, as is the one at the top of this review.<\/p><\/div>\n Speaking of that perfection, Noah was joined for one section of the dance by Shu Kinouch, and it was so entertaining to see two guys with faultless fitness doing that intense choreography together.<\/p>\n It seemed that all five of these dancers had long hair!<\/p>\n Something that surprised me a bit, but didn\u2019t at all bother<\/em> me, is that, towards the end of the first duo, I could hear Noah Wang breathing sort-of heavily. I just noticed it a bit, but it was nothing bad<\/em> at all; trust me, I know annoying dancing sounds\u2014when I lived in Malta, I once saw the National Ballet of Yugoslavia, whose feet were landing with thuds all night!<\/p>\n We were both totally impressed with pianist Yanking Bai, the soloist for the first and third acts. At the end of the presentation, Mr. X declared, \u201cThat guy can friggin\u2019 play the piano!!!\u201d But at times during Reflections<\/em>, composer David Lang\u2019s music sounded like when my mother used to clean the keys of our living room upright! I honestly thought that Bai was freestyling half the time. Let me tell you\u2014no one could take a nap to that composition. (If I ever make a movie about someone being driven to murder, that first piece will be the score!)<\/p>\n Hearts & Arrows. Photo by Jade Ellis.<\/p><\/div>\n Next up was 2014\u2019s Hearts & Arrows<\/em>. This one was much more to my liking, in every way. The whole thing was so much more dynamic than the first. It had more dancers, better scenery, cuter wardrobe, group dancing, and sooooo much better music!!! I don\u2019t think it was supposed to mean anything\u2014it was just light and fun, with adorable black-and-white outfits.<\/p>\n However, the best, to me, was the last, and longest, (perhaps a bit too<\/em> much so,) 2016\u2019s On the Other Side<\/em>. In it\u00a0was my favorite dancer of the entire evening, Rob Hoffer.\u00a0 As wonderful as they all<\/em> were, there was just something special about Rob\u2014every movement of his seemed to be just a bit more<\/em>. It wasn\u2019t a contest, of course, (except isn’t everything<\/em> in life?,) but I\u2019m just sayin\u2019.<\/p>\n The curtain call for On The Other Side. \u00a0Rob Hoffer is fourth from the right. And pianist Yanking Bai is on the very right. Notice he’s just in his socks! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Much of the choreography in On the Other Side<\/em> was fascinating, and included many unique and really creative moves. I wound-up not caring what any of it was supposed to mean and just enjoyed the artistry in front of me.<\/p>\n I especially admired the pas de deux in this one. (Since I write my notes in the dark without taking my eyes off the stage, I\u2019m so sorry that I didn\u2019t note which two dancers I\u2019m lauding, but I think it was Shu Kinouchi and Daphne Fernberger.)<\/p>\n Shu Kinouchi and Daphne Fernberger. Photo by Jade Ellis.<\/p><\/div>\n As you may have realized by my many reviews through the years, I adore all things dance, so I\u2019m always aware that while dancers are our most talented and hard working artists, few get the recognition, nor jobs, that they deserve. So I applaud people and organizations that support these incredible talents. And I\u2019m happy to report that Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels did just that for this presentation, commissioning all three of these Benjamin Millepied works. (I would have loved to receive a goodie bag of jewels on the way out, but you can\u2019t have everything.)<\/p>\n As always, the Wallis was the most comfortable theatre in which to view this beautiful art. We had friends in different areas of the audience that night, and all of us were equally happy with our views of the stage.\u00a0 (I\u2019m sure ours<\/em> was really the best one, though!) A friend to whom I introduced this venue a few years ago was there that night, too, and he was so excited to be there again, telling us, \u201cI love this place!\u201d<\/p>\n So, once again, I heavily suggest that everybody check-out the Wallis\u2019 full schedule, so you do not miss any<\/em> of their always-worthwhile presentations: www.thewallis.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" L.A. DANCE PROJECT: GEMS During the past weekend, Mr. X and I were treated to this contemporary dance show at our favorite theatre of all time, the Wallis in Beverly Hills. This is my fifth or sixth time seeing celebrated choreographer Benjamin Millepied\u2019s company, L.A. Dance Project, and the work is always interesting, to say<\/p>\n<\/a>
Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>