Vivacity's 'Genesis'

At the end of a Bicker and Sign-in week that is anything but biblical, there is no better way to revive oneself from eating club overload than to see "Genesis," the debut of Princeton's only exclusively modern dance company, Vivacity. Though the production has little to do with religion, it promises to be exploratory, innovative, dynamic and thoughtful – in short, a welcome diversion from all things Street-related.

A year and a half ago, Erin Langley '05 founded Vivacity to alleviate Princeton's dearth of student-directed modern dance.

"I just wanted to dance and I got a lot more than I bargained for," Langley, the group's artistic director and sole officer, said. "It's been a lot of work, [but] dance has always been a way for me to express myself. It keeps me sane."

Armed with 15 years of dance experience and boundless energy, Langley obtained university recognition, recruited and auditioned 10 members and set Vivacity on a course of self-discovery, artistic exploration and modern dance.

In its short history, Vivacity has leapt from rehearsals in the Forbes dining hall to its first full-length performance in the Frist Theater, opening this weekend. Though the journey has been difficult at times, these women exude enthusiasm and confidence, as they put the finishing touches on a show that is all about beginnings.

Modern dance was pioneered by choreographers like Martha Graham, Jose Limon and Merce Cunningham and is known for its departure from classical technique; its emotion and expressiveness; bare feet and bruised knees; and its emphasis on physical interpretations of sound and feeling. At its most abstract, modern dance is music (or silence) made tangible through the body. Every gesture, from the kick of a leg to the flick of a finger, is deliberate and expressive of a situation or emotion.

"Genesis," the familiar story about the creation of heaven and earth and the beginning of man, is Vivacity's contribution to the burgeoning Princeton performing arts scene and will feature ten student-choreographed pieces to music by Bjork, Nas, the Dead Presidents soundtrack and even an aboriginal artist.

Four of the show's pieces were choreographed by Langley alone, while the rest of the evening features individual and collaborative choreography by the freshmen, sophomore and junior membership. The evening begins with a piece called "Let There Be Light."

In "Let There Be Awakening", three dancers move to a song called "Call Waiting" by Bjork and Zap Mama. The piece begins with partnering and elaborate lifts and progresses into movement patterns that alternate between slow and frenetic. All of the movement is punctuated with claps and isolations that reflect a jazz influence.

"I started with the idea that no one can stand without someone else, so there are a lot of weight transfers. The process is about trying to break free of that," choreographer Morgan Galland '06 said.

The result is a beautiful piece where dancers forge visible connections with one anther and with the music.

For these women, the creative process is as important as the performance.

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"There's definitely a process in making the pieces," Sasha Baker '06 said. "We don't just pick the latest music and choreograph. Sometimes we work together, and a lot of our pieces tell stories."

The closeness of the group is apparent, as they huddle together in the Frist Theater with costumes strewn across their legs. With only ten members, these women understand each other as dancers and as people.

"Our size enables us to have greater intimacy between us. We know how everyone moves, which is important for improvisation," Langley said.

"What I like about this company is that there are many different body types and personalities, and there is room for different forms of expression," Baker said.

Genesis is certainly an adventure in human emotion. Though the pieces lean on the serious side, the messages are subtly conveyed and beautifully expressed in dance. So escape the drudgery of bicker and the inebriation of initiations, and see Princeton's newest dance group. "Genesis" features guest appearances by BAC, Tap Cats, and Capoiera and will also include a soloist hula dancer. The show is playing at the Film and Performance Theater in Frist on Friday, Feb. 6th at 7 p.m. and Sat., Feb. 7th at 2 p.m .and 7 p.m.. Student tickets are $6 and are free with the Passport to the Arts.