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SAKEdance Company
“Until You Get to Know Her Better”
Joy of Motion Dance Center
October 8, 2006

by Naima Prevots
copyright 2006 by Naima Prevots

The press release for the concert was long on words about an exciting focus on “how the world views women,” but the choreography by Sandra Atkinson, Asanga Damask, Kirsten Wilkenson, and guest artist Vladimir Angelov, proved to have little substance. The evening consisted mostly of short solos and duets by the three young women who produced the evening, and they were notably lacking in choreographic invention, artistic projection, and true exploration of the “women’s theme.” The most disappointing feature was Angelov’s “hide-and-seek, find-and-keep” which consisted of clichés showing the three women in childish clothing, running, skipping, holding hands in a circle, and making believe they were playful ten-year-olds.

The most promising work was also the first on the program: Transitional Object, performed and choreographed by Kirsten Wilkenson, with her own text as accompaniment. At this point it is still a short and undeveloped study, but the themes of displacement and transition are handled with sensitivity, and the performance showed technical and artistic ability. Wilkenson needs to delve deeper into what she is trying to say, and think more about what images and thoughts are most important. Asanga Damask, who grew up in Sri Lanka and is experienced in dance forms from that country, is now moving into modern dance, but has not clarified what this vocabulary and approach means to her. Her choreography for the duet snapshots, which she called a work in progress, lacked focus, and it was never clear what the movements meant and what they had to do with the title. Another duet, mirage, this time by Sandra Atkinson, was also called a work in progress, and to the music Que Cira Cira, the dancers navigated in the space playing with each other. Simplistic and rambling, it was probably meant to display the virtues of friendship and believing in the world, but had no virtue as choreography.

Expectations from someone brought in as a guest choreographer are higher, and it was most unfortunate that Angelov did not create a meaningful work that would challenge the dancers and provide a role model for their own efforts. The title of the concert, “Until You Get to Know Her Better” implied that the audience was about to get deeper insights into the topic of contemporary women. The press release read as follows: “Enjoy the versatility of three emerging choreographers in this evening length performance. Sandra Atkinson, Asanga Damask and Kirsten Wilkenson explore the stereotypes and issues of women on a global level through the expression of dance. Experience movement inspired by Sri Lankan and African traditional movement, modern dance and other themes that represent how the world views women. ‘Until you get to know her better…’ is a window into the societal psyche of the female gender.” This has been quoted in full, to provide the disparity between promise and lack of fulfillment, between overblown prose, and underdone dance.

The remaining two pieces by these emerging choreographers were a solo by Atkinson, and a duet by Damask and Wilkenson. Atkinson’s solo showed her struggling with a rope in a series of predictable movements. The duet had the two women doing a series of hand gestures and simple movements, that probably were meant to show friendship or togetherness. The last piece by the guest artist Vladimir Angelov should have ended the program with something that would show the audience what a mature choreographer can do, in terms of movement invention and content. It seemed like a throw away effort: something created quickly and with little care. This was most unfortunate, as it would have been good to see the three women challenged, and to end the evening with something of substance.

These three dancers were not ready for a full evening, but they are anxious to create and perform. It would be wonderful if they could workshop their pieces, and get some tough and honest direction for their work. Perhaps next time, there will be more balance between words and substance in any program they present. Perhaps next time, they will have been made to dig deeper, work harder, and wait longer before presenting themselves.

Volume 4, No. 37
October 16, 2006
copyright ©2006 Naima Prevots
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