The Houston Metropolitan Dance Company’s Quirky Works VI pleased audiences Friday night with an eclectic melee drawing influences from folk music, contemporary dance and classical ballet.
The performance took off slowly with its two weakest pieces, Folk Tales and Vicious Cycle. Despite the riveting folk rhythms of the Warsaw Village Band, the first two sets’ forced choreography fell short.
The night quickly picked up with the world premier of newcomer Brock Clawson’s The Yawning.
In complete contrast to the lifeless first two sets, The Yawning stirred memories of the haunting nightmares and tearfully joyous dreams of being loved.
Afterward, Orion and Relentless were riveting fun with the Met’s typical toe-tapping beats and talented choreography.
Stirring Simple in Shades of Blue celebrated joy with tribal beats and its vibrant flowing costumes.
Tom’s Songs pleased the crowd by pairing contemporary dance with modern songs by The Band, Neil Young, Cyndi Lauper and Van Morrison. Dancers in brown tank tops and ragged jeans accompany The Weight with a delightful, if repetitive, set of individual numbers.
The set ended by weaving a narrative in between Time After Time and Bright Side of the Road of an alienated girl who finds a community
Detrimental Thoughts got viewers’ hearts pumping with riveting choreography set to the frenetic sounds of the Vitamin String Quartet. The set’s energy lit up the stage and received howling ovations.
The show’s low points were the harshly minimalist costumes and stage design. While modern dance flirts with minimalism, the stage simply seemed unbearably stark and empty.
Admiring innovative staging and costuming forms an enjoyable component for many, and seeing more lushly-lit stages and elaborate costumes from this prestigious company would be a delight.
Despite the disappointing first quarter of the performance, Quirky Works VI pleased the crowd with dynamic choreography and skilled dancers.
