eXpressions lights up 'Silver Screen'

This weekend, go see eXpressions Dance Company light up the stage in its fall show "eXpressions on the Silver Screen." In each of the 13 pieces, the girls dance to music from the soundtrack of a different major motion picture from "Center Stage" to James Bond to Harry Potter. The result is a fun, flirty show that instantly engages the audience while showcasing the choreographic and performing talent of several of the dancers.

Much of the show's success stems from the theme. eXpressions has deliberately chosen movies that the majority of audience members will recognize, and the costume and spirit of each piece embodies those films. From one hit song to the next, these vibrant dancers interpret some of America's most famous recent movies through dance.

In "As Long as Love and the Liquor Last..." we are taken into the bar scene of "Coyote Ugly," complete with Daisy Duke shorts, pitchers of beer and metallic gold cowboy boots. Later, we enter the edgy, futuristic world of "The Matrix" in "This is How it Ends." The most experimental choreography comes from Amy Laviers '09 in her piece "Colorblind" from "Cruel Intentions." Dressed in simple brown and black tones, the dancers embody the melancholy and internal struggle of the song by stretching, pushing and bending across stage. Creative, varied lighting adds dimension to the show, and the costumes are colorful, sexy and appropriate to the subject and setting of each piece. Role-playing is also a prominent motif of these performances as seen in Disney, James Bond and "Moulin Rouge" pieces.

Though similar in tone and style, the opening and closing pieces, choreographed by Natalia Naman '08 and Jessie Somple '08, respectively, are clear standouts in the show. Both Naman and Somple deserve high praise for their charismatic performances throughout the show, and their choreography in these pieces shines as well. Expressions' self-consciously well-conceived opening piece, "Dance," features the full company performing as the dancers of "Center Stage." From the first counts, the dancers infuse energy and pizzazz into their steps. Nearly two hours later in "Make Sure You Don't Break It Girl," the finale from "Cars," the full company returns dressed in sporty aerobics clothes, booty shakin' and shimmying to The Black Eyed Peas. In both pieces, it is clear all the girls are having a blast on stage. These fast-paced, tightly choreographed, spunky pieces elicit some of the most confident performances of the show. In general, the dancers excel in the larger pieces, while sometimes appearing tentative or stiff in small ones.

Throughout the show, these dancers infuse grace and spice onto the Intime stage. If you like dancing, movies and music, this dynamic showcase will surely entertain you.

Strengths: Interesting choreography, great costumes, famous songs Weaknesses: Some dances appear less confident and tight than others