Dance Scene
'FourPlay' medley of contemporary styles
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
 |
| The foursome of "FourPlay": (from left) Peter Rockford Espiritu, AndrÚ Moris, David Ward and Eva Lee.
Chiu Leong 'FourPlay' 8 p.m. Saturday Leeward Community College Theatre $18 ($14 students, seniors and military 455-0385 Also: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Kaua'i Performing Arts Center; and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater |
That's the formula for "FourPlay," a dance project that features new works by four local choreographers opening tomorrow night at Leeward Community College Theatre.
But more than a one-time performance, the show hits the road, traveling to Kaua'i and Maui.
And more than just a dance concert, "FourPlay" is a medley of modern dance, with pieces that tackle issues ranging from race to humor.
"The combination of the four of us just works really well," said choreographer David Ward, who also is producing the touring concert. "We each have different styles, but we complement each other. We're good friends and have like minds on some level."
Joining Ward are Eva Lee from the Big Island, AndrÚ Moris from Maui and Peter Rockford Espiritu from O'ahu.
This is the third time the foursome has presented their works together, the first to showcase original, never-before-seen pieces.
The concert is a way to promote new dance in Hawai'i, ground-breaking choreography that dares to jump outside the box and tell thought-provoking stories.
Ward's piece, for example, pushes the envelope in terms of the scale of production. Known for shorter works that usually require simple costumes and sets, this piece, titled "Suite Dream," is a full-body evening work, engaging the audience for about 50 straight minutes in 14 movements to an original score. It also includes a video projection element.
The piece is so large, in fact, that it requires 20 performers with several costume changes each.
"It's just massive," Ward said in between rehearsals on Maui. "It's just large and ambitious, probably the most ambitious work (of mine) to date."
The piece is about dreams, set in different dreamscapes. It moves through a myriad of emotions, from laughter to anger to violence.
Ward enlisted eight senior citizens from Maui to perform as forest and spirit elders for the number's finale.
"That element is one of my favorites," Ward said. "They're so completely engaging. Even my dancers are in awe. It's so simple. Seeing them is quite moving."
One senior, 81-year-old actress Lesley Gibson from Maui, will star as the spirit guide.
Working with the seniors has been one of the most rewarding parts of this production for Ward.
"Oh, I loved working with them," he gushed.
Using several surprising elements in his piece is somewhat of a Ward trademark.
"From what I've seen, he always does something innovative," said RenÚe Beauvais, artistic director for TILT Dance Company on Maui, which is sponsoring the show. "He's always going for that angle first, always trying to stretch himself."
Moris changes the concert's pace with a comedic dance number titled "Tea Party."
The story focuses on five elderly women who are having a tea party on a veranda. Sitting in rocking chairs, they chat about grandchildren and play cards, all against the musical backdrop of Johann Strauss' "Blue Danube."
"The characters are really big, really toward caricature," Moris said. "Big costumes, big wigs, big make-up — the whole thing."
The characters are as colorful as the sets. One is snobby, dressed in a sharp Chanel suit, who wants everything to be perfect. One is very tall but very sweet. One is a typical church lady. Another is an old-fashioned Italian mother with gaudy outfits. And the last, played by Moris, is "the fat one, who's just loud and out there and the one who'll mess up the party," Moris said. "It's, like, drama here."
The idea came to him a few years ago, while utilizing the rocking chair on his porch in Ha'iku.
Of course, the idea was easier than actually producing it.
"Just pulling it together," he said, "to create the illusion, for me, was challenging. But everything came together beautifully."
Lee's piece, "Yellow and White," deals with racial struggles. Espiritu's "Paniolo Blues" plays with music from Cowboy Junkies and Ella Fitzgerald.
Eclectic to say the least.
"The chemistry is great," Moris said. "The great thing is it started as friendships, the four of us, before anything else. We're family. We're very excited by each other's works."
