Company:   Danielle McNeal Johnson / DMJ Dance Collective

Choreographer:   Danielle McNeal Johnson

Performer:   Shayna Da Cruz

This piece begins with Shayna Da Cruz, the soloist, sitting in a large armchair, the only prop on stage. It creates a sense of isolation and she appears to be in some distress, a mood reinforced by a soundtrack featuring dark, angsty electronic vocals. The mood builds until, back arched, she literally explodes in the chair. She is thrust onto the stage, and remains there for the duration, in the throes of this unnamed turmoil.

Da Cruz remains committed to this level of emotional intensity. She’s all-in and it drives her entire performance. Her floor work is agile and there is impressive fluidity in her transitions. This includes creating some rapid figures which I can’t describe but which speak for her ability to maintain specificity in this emotionally charged work.

At one point she lets out a scream – it’s piercing and impressive. I accept the fact that dancers are not trained actors, but all too often their attempts at vocalization, when the program calls for it, are weak, unconvincing and really counter-productive. Da Cruz let it all out and created a physical and emotional break that let her transition to the ending, which finds her curled up in the armchair, entirely spent.

I don’t know and couldn’t speculate on what the genesis of this piece was for choreographer Danielle McNeal Johnson, but Da Cruz’ impassioned performance allowed me to experience it.

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