“Now that is the kind of dance that I can get into.” That’s what the couple behind me said as they left “Underland: White Nightmare II,” presented this weekend at Studio 3D on 16th and Jefferson streets by the Halo Movement Collective. The twisted take on “Alice in Wonderland” did not disappoint.
The set was as white as the Holy Ghost, but the plot line was as deranged as the Mad Hatter himself. The audience was driven into a wormhole by the dubstep-heavy soundtrack accompanied by twisted visuals.
Artistic director, media designer, costume designer and choreographer Angel Castro developed a complete production. The costumes were individually crafted for each character. They were elegant and filled with intricate beaded and laced detailing.
Castro exemplified the strengths of his performers and selected a cast based on the characters he was creating. At times, the characterization overpowered the emphasis on movement quality and technical execution. However, with all of the production elements combined, this did not detract from the overall quality of the show.
The choreography transitioned studio-jazz training into a professional, contemporary-jazz performance. Very rarely can a back walkover fit into professional dance choreography. However, in the nonsensical roles of Tweedledee and Tweedledum, cartwheels and back walkovers were completely appropriate.
Another talent that Castro utilized during the performance was aerial work. A cocoon that later reveals a caterpillar is the ultimate reason to include aerial work in a show. The Caterpillar, played by Jenna Lyn Myers, smoothly transitioned up the silks and executed drops with an awareness of timing that took the movement far beyond trickery.
Angel Castro should be further acknowledged for his talents as a producer and marketer. There were many people at the show who were attending their first professional dance performance, and who from the standing ovation, appeared willing to return to more Halo Movement productions.
To see this post as it was originally published alongside other downtown dance reviews, check out Julie Akerly’s self-published blog, the Phoenix Dance Review.
Contact the author at Julie.Akerly@asu.edu. Contact the columnist at molly.bilker@asu.edu.
