Reeling is dance theater at it’s finest. Inventive, sensual, hilarious, and interactive, you just plain haven’t seen this before. Missed it at the Moss Theater in Santa Monica? Then head to San Diego this weekend October 17-18 to see it at White Box in San Diego, or the weekend of Nov. 7-8 in Santa Barbara.
Choreographed and directed by artistic director Laura Karlin, the intense 70-minute Invertigo Dance Theatre production is entirely unique.
According to Karlin: “The show is set in a dive bar, and is inspired by the double meaning of the word reeling: first, to be off-kilter from drinking, getting punched, falling in love at first sight, and second, to try to pull someone into you, which is why a lot of people go to bars. I like multiple meanings, different angles to a story and whimsical imagery,” she says. “Underneath all of my work, the deepest inspiration is human connection. The dive bar is a great context in which to see characters interact with the underlying, driving desire to connect.”
Featuring eight stellar dancers, the piece shows them literally fishing for partners with rod and reel, flirting, texting, fighting, falling in love, diving off the bar. As Karlin says “These are recognizable stories, but always with a twist. The dancers never leave the stage once they enter, because the whole show takes place over the course of one evening in the bar. This show is the equivalent of a television “bottle episode.” Which of course plays into my love of word play, because. . . bar! bottle!”
The dancers are onstage, in character the entire performance, which, Karlin notes, requires a huge amount of stamina.
According to Karlin, Invertigo’s philosophy is that dance should be compelling, thought-provoking, fun and accessible. “I believe in beautiful, highly kinetic movement, bold theatricality, and striking imagery. I want to tell stories that matter, to crack open different subjects and examine them from many different angles. I want people who have never watched a dance show before to be able to connect with what we’re doing, even as people who are ‘dance aficionados’ find many layers as well.”
Invertigo does more than provide stunning performances. “We bring the same philosophy to our engagement programs: Invert/ED youth education and Dancing Through Parkinson’s. We believe in empowering people through the creative process and the idea that dance is for everybody and every body,” Karlin stresses.
A piece this demanding might seem difficult to cast, but Karlin demurs. “I have worked with 7 of the 8 dancers before, and our the newest member Jonathan Bryant, integrated seamlessly into the company. It feels like he’s worked with us for years already. Invertigo holds auditions when we need new company members, and we have a fairly low turn-over rate. I look for dancers with gorgeous technique, intriguing originality, creativity, and a kindness and generosity to their manner. As a choreographer, I work so collaboratively, and we need people in the room who are excited to be a part of that and who will support one another in the creative process.”
Go, go, go – to see Invertigo.