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Eurydice's Flight: Dayton Contemporary Dance Company at BAM
by Veronica Marcelo

The sound of brass trumpets and trombones begin to play (music by Miles Davis) at BAM Harvey Theatre, catching only a moment's worth of the audience's attention during the first intermission in Program A. But as the lights begin to fade, the audience quiets down, ready to witness what DCDC has in store for tonight's performance. The spotlight shines vibrantly onto Sheri Williams and Alvin Rangel as they begin to dance a lovers dance  the tango. In her fabulous firestone-red attire (designed by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Currie Leggoe and Maurita Elam and constructed by Lynn Holbrook and Janet Denman) Sheri "Sparkle," as she is also known, surely does "strut her stuff," giving us no doubt about where her nickname was derived from.

As the couple continue to tango, we feel the intimacy and the sparks between the two. Their movements, though strong, are very close and intimate. In the duet between the pair, a glitch in the relationship avails itself to the audience, intriguing us even more. Alvin Rangel plays the role of an abusive boyfriend or husband as he holds her in a sleeper hold, causing her to pass out. Four men dressed in white, personifying angels, whisk her away, saving her from what seemed to be her doom.

As tragic as it may seem, it is actually very entertaining to watch. Choreographed by Jawole Willa Jo Zillar and assisted by Darryl Foster and Leymis Bolanos, a new era of the piece dawns on the stage as the lights gradually turn back on, but this time in red. Spot lights of a dreary ruby color, designed by Scott Borowka, enhance an already quite engaging scene. As Eurydice, or Sherri Williams, walks onto mid-stage, other couples appear one by one on the floor with movement I would definitely call vampy. As she adorns in the celebration of her freedom with actions very soft and low-energy, we become even more anxious to know what might happen next.

Afterwards, Eurydice's lover decides to come back, haunting her from the past. And as we recognize her movements and the way she interacts with Rangel, we realize that she is being tempted to go back to the way things were between the talented duo. As the temptation heightens and the intimacy deepens, she comes to her senses and tries once again to escape from him, succeeding.

DCDC has definitely embraced the stage with Eurydice's Flight, delivering a breathtaking performance. With ambitious choreographers and a great crew behind the scenes, it was bound to be a stunning production!