Fusion Dance:
New York company frolics to a wide array of grooves
The Doug Elkins Dance Company returns to Trafo

The New York-based Doug Elkins Dance Company, who will perform at the Trafo House of Contemporary Arts on 14 and 15 November, promise the use a variety of modern musical genres ranging from classical to hip-hop, fused with a dance choreography that is meant to nudge the audience to re-examine their understanding of dance, music and the creative process. This dance is meant to appeal to our sense of humor, rather than the soul or intellect that some may expect from modern dance.

Since its inception in 1988, the Doug Elkins Company has become one of America’s most prominent dance companies. Headed by Doug Elkins, 30, its founder, artistic director and choreographer, the company has been awarded a wide array of prizes from contemporary dance supporters including the Jerome Foundation, the Metropolitan Life-American Dance Festival, Arts International, and received the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts.

Teetering on the edge of the real, the seven-member group relies on the originality, sense of humor and creative imagination of each of their members. Although humor is the central motif of their performances, the Doug Elkins shows try to circumvent the superficial through fluidity and a sense of eeriness. They try to involve the audience in their performances through trying to convey the feeling that the audience is spending time with the dancers, rather than simply watching them. The work said to be characterized by a constant search for underlying connections, opportunities of renewal, for sources of joy, passion and humor.

“It is our hope... to challenge our own perception of what is real,” said Mr. Elkins in an interview.

After the tremendous success of their first Budapest performance in 1994, the Doug Elkins Company this time returns to Hungary with two of their most recent choreographies entitled Wholly Matrimony and Last Train to Philly. Wholly Matrimony was inspired by the preparations for Elkins’ real-life marriage as well as David Byrne’s Once in a Lifetime, the musical sounds that reverberate from the background, as a most appropriate context to describe the plunge into the institution of marriage.

In contrast, The Last Train to Philly is performed to an energetic Motown mix, including Patti LaBelle and The Delphonics, and aims to explore the connections between strangers and friends, one of Elkins’ central themes.

Hard-edged aggression, dare-devil physicality, fast flashing feet, rolling shoulders and expressive sexuality are woven together into the witty dance of these fast-moving performers. Drawn from all walks of life, their shows have prompted the critic of New York Times to declare, "Nothing is left unnoticed, little is left unused."

The choice of musical repertoire of the company is just as telling, however, of the companies work as the dance itself. It involves such gurus of the musical world as the much-celebrated Pakistani performer Nusrath Fateh Ali Khan, who passed away this year, or the noted composer David Byrne. Hip-hop, ballet, capoeira, voguing and break-dance all meet head on in the world of Doug Elkins.

Members of The Doug Elkins Company are also organizing a workshop between November 12 and 15 at Trafo.

11.13
Edith Balazs