'SuperNatural' femmes fatales

Sitting in the Frist Performance Theatre in the pitch black, waiting for "SuperNatural" to begin, I wasn't sure what to expect from such a title. But as the lights came up on the full company, bedazzled in sparkling red and black, I sensed this performance had a courage entirely its own. Andrea Francis ’11 and Lara Yuan ’10, eXpressions' artistic directors, said the fall show is inspired by the phenomenon of natural bodies reaching supernatural heights. But it's the risk and the vulnerability that make this production distinctive, and it's clean technique and a uniquely feminine confidence that hold it together.

Let's start with the highlights. In "SuperWomen," choreographed by Yuan, five ladies ditch their stilettos and suit jackets to rock this Alicia Keys song like they own the stage. In an intimate theater like Frist's, geometry is especially important, and Yuan took advantage of this, creating a strong contrast between soloist and unified group.

"Fairytale," choreographed by Catherine Hsieh ’12 and Amanda Van Duynhoven ’11, has a similar feel: a sort of "labels don't suit me" mentality. And if that vibe doesn't shatter the glass ceiling, the "Italian fuettes" and high-kicking developes certainly do. It's a chance for the dancers to really show off their technique with bravura ballet movements and a whole lot of spunk.

Act II begins with "Short-Winded Elations," a collaborative effort from guest choreographers Brian Jeong ’11 and Henry Moss ’12. The hip-hop piece features three guest male dancers: Gilbert Tetteh ’12, Seung Nam ’12 and Moss. No offense, guys, but it's the ladies that carry this dance. If you thought the Black Arts Company had the monopoly on hip hop, think again.

We've pretty well covered the super, but what about the natural? That would be an untitled piece by Jesseca Turner ’12 and Lizzie Cruikshank ’10, pairing the latter's fluid lyrical movements with the former's enchantingly earthy voice and guitar chords. This piece is refreshingly grounded and personal after some of the more exuberant numbers. (Cruikshank is also an executive copy editor for The Daily Princetonian.)

As with any performance, there are a few pieces that try too hard or simply fall a bit flat. "Welcome to the Other Side" featured choreography that is too busy for my taste — and for Frist's smallish stage — and the storyline of "Foreigner" had me feeling more than a little bewildered. "Day ’N’ Night" was fun to watch, and the steps were well put together, but the geometry was rather segregated.

But these are minor faults compared to the performance's overall high quality. "SuperNatural" is brave, it's spunky, it's hot, and you don't want to miss it.

4 PAWS