eXpressions show wows with variety

That is just a taste of the blend of styles present in the fall semester eXpressions show, fittingly titled “Kaleidoscope.” The show is a melange of dances from jazz to lyrical to the Robot.

The variety was one of many impressive aspects of the show. For one thing, the music choices were impeccable. Each song was paired with a dance that captured the very essence of the music. Most noteworthy was “Leave,” set to the Plain White T’s hit “Hey There Delilah.” The eight dancers came out in four pairs. For half of each verse, one partner danced while the other stood still, and then they switched. The moving dancers took on the role of the singer, with their movements symbolizing everything the singer promises for Delilah, the still dancers.

Not only do the routines complement the music, but the dancers’ facial expressions reflect the songs as well. During the upbeat numbers, they could not stop smiling. When the music slowed and became more melancholy, the forlorn looks on their faces elicited pity from the audience.

Unlike the facial expressions, the choreography was hit or miss. The first dance of act two, “Don’t Stop,” set to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” featured a moving background of bored-looking company members behind the exuberant seniors leaping, twirling and attempting to convince everyone else to keep believing.

The inspirational movements of that front line weren’t present in every dance. In some, the dancers’ movements failed to complement each other, making them look out of place. The timing of movements was often out of sync, creating a sort of mess on stage.

Like the choreography, the costumes were also hit or miss. Some were very clever, like reinventing the Dixie Chicks’ pale dresses from the “Not Ready to Make Nice” video using what looked like bed sheets. Others, like the oversize shirts in “Evolution of a Relationship,” looked more like nurses’ uniforms.

Lighting, on the other hand, was consistently on target, and the use of color of the illumination complemented the music. In “Black and Gold,” white lights flashed on and off, creating the effect of black and gold. In most other dances, they changed with the mood of the music. In “Andrea’s Workout Plan,” when the beat of the song became more intense, the stage began to glow a fierce red before subsiding as the music calmed.

While the color of the lights changed from dance to dance, one effect was used repeatedly: the silhouette, where the background was brightly lit so only the general form of the company members could be seen. The dancers then linked up to form interesting figures in the lights.

Overall, the blending of styles supplemented with the music and costumes makes for an interesting, kaleidoscopic experience, as the title implies. Despite some minor flaws, the show is definitely worth seeing. Be sure to stay for the finale. It might make you jump out of your seat.