Troupe dances a 'brilliant' Red

Billy the Kid was there, as were many doctors. There was tap, ballet and even some modern dance. Still lifes, too. All of these and more were found in the impressive Arts House Dance Company performance of Red, which began last weekend and will continue this weekend beginning Thursday. Red may be considered a symbol full of intrigue and brilliance, and the show certainly affirmed these exciting elements. With each dance, the company's enthusiasm grew and the performances improved, culminating in a fantastic finale. Both alumni and current members choreographed the event, and presented different themes throughout the show, and sometimes even within the same dance. Nothing was ever the same and nothing was boring. The company managed to portray the many themes in the choreography clearly. Interesting still life episodes were cleverly placed both to present humor and to shorten the waiting period between dances. All of the interludes further manifested their overall theme of the color red. According to company member and College junior Sarah Gitchell, the red theme was chosen because "it was the closest we could come to a universal theme." Red represents their overall feeling of "energy and vibrance," Gitchell added. The most predominant color in the lighting part of the show was, not surprisingly, red. The music ranged through all tempos and styles. Fast-paced modern music was often interchanged with a slower speed piece, presenting an excellent contrast. Disco after a slow love song? Therein lay the excitement. The lighting, however, was most magnificent. Colors coordinated with the costumes to provide a pleasurable backdrop. The light show was strong and accentuated the expertise of the dancers. The dancers also felt great about their first performance. They expressed a genuine enjoyment for what they were doing throughout the whole show. "I felt really great after opening night," Arts House Chair and Wharton senior Mariacte Correa said, "which is unusual and exciting." This weekend Arts House Dance Company will be performing Red again this weekend. The show is in Harold Prince Theatre on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. Tickets will be available today on Locust Walk and at the door.