The Riverside Centroplex transformed into a tropical rainforest Tuesday night. A troupe of modern dancers and members of the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre became exotic flora and fauna with the help of some creative costuming.
David Taylor Dance Theatre presented its nationally acclaimed “Rainforest” production to the Baton Rouge audience. Taylor selected 18 local dancers to perform as dancers and puppeteers with the company.
The program began with the use of black lights and puppeteers with ultraviolet colored dragonflies and birds. The sets were painted bright, vivid colors that created a versatile backdrop for underwater, canopy and jungle scenes.
Taylor has a knack for taking modern dance to a new level. But “Rainforest” seemed to be more about the visual effects than the actual dancing ability.
The costumes were the high point of the evening, and the designers deserve credit for the caliber of the performance. It is difficult to make a grown man look like a preying mantis or raccoon, but this performance successfully created such illusions.
The different numbers of the performance served to showcase the different elements of the rainforest environment. The technique of some dancers seemed more refined than others, which seemed disorganized. While the majority of the movements were choreographed to be free flowing, parts of the choreography were supposed to be in unison but had slight timing issues.
“Rainforest” showcased Taylor’s original choreography, which included elements from ballet, tribal rituals and Martha Graham-styled modern dance. The dancing constantly changed during the performance – one number included pointed shoes and a modern pas de deux, while the next was done on bare feet with archery bows.
These talented dancers fully embraced their animal roles. The frog had a bright red tongue and hopped around the stage, the snake slithered on its stomach and a female jaguar fought with hunters.
Comic relief came in the form of a raccoon character that fought with puppet monkeys and swung across the stage in full Tarzan mode.
Modern dance is comparable to modern art. It is often bizarre, inexplicable or downright confusing. “Rainforest” was not quite “art for art’s sake,” but at times the meaning or identification of characters and movements was lost on the audience.
“Rainforest” often seemed as though it belonged in Disney World, but it was a unique experience and vividly portrayed the hierarchy of the rainforest from man to the flowers.
Taylor is expanding the world of dance beyond the traditional “Nutcrackers,” “Riverdances” and even the more famous modern dances.
There was no virtuosity or bravura from any of the dancers. Still, “Rainforest” excellently executed visuals and the free spirit of modern dance, without overt plot or message.