Goose Route Weekend II Begins!

Another great day in Shepherdstown has come to an end. I am excited about all of the lovely work included in the festival this weekend! Fast dance, slow dance, serious dance, hilarious dance! This intimate group of choreographers and dancers are as varied as can be.

Sharon Mansur, from Washington, D.C. brings a collection of contemplative multimedia work entitled "Here/There," that invites audience members to look closely and be absorbed in the beautiful, natural images reflected in Sharon's body and on the screen. Audience members journey through wild landscapes as intimate shots and subtle movements reveal small wonders which might otherwise be looked over.

Green Chair Dance Group from Philadelphia presents a satisfying, comedic work that had me and many others laughing out loud from beginning to end! The way in which the group incorporates bodies colliding into walls, sweat bands, the word, "WHOA!" and a huge painting all in the same piece not only show off the group's knack for the absurd, but their maturity and sensitivity within the genre, making their offering an exciting experience.

Goose Route Dance, comprised of GRDF Director Kitty Clark and Festival Consultant, Ray Shaw, show their versatility through two contrasting works, one of which is a series of minute-long vignettes choreographed by a handful guest artists. The work takes audience members on a winding energetic journey as Kitty and Ray engage in tender moments, only to turn into super heroes the next! In their second offering, the pair show their more serious side, with a deliciously dark multimedia work that includes Anglo-Saxon narration that manifests itself in the dancer's bodies through strong shapes and tense moments.

Laura Peterson Choreography, out of NYC presents two excerpts from an evening length work called, "Forever." This fun, colorful, highly physical work is one sure to make anyone watching feel energized. The four dancers in the company expertly demonstrate the capabilities of the human body while taking the audience for a loop with breathtaking physical clarity, spot-on musicality and subtle humor. A crowd pleaser, for sure!

Happy to see such wonderful work, I'm also happy to say that our first day of performance has gone well, and we have gotten some very positive feedback thus far! I'm excited about our long day tomorrow. Sleep calls, more soon.

~Cara