Complexions performance review continued ...

So as I began to just touch upon in last night's blog, the Complexions company featured a variety of dance, dance styles and songs.

"Barely Silent" was the opening piece for Act 2 and featured two couples (one male and one female each) in fluid light blue/gray costumes performing a dance that featured more modern/lyrical movement than the previous "Hissy Fits" which awakened the senses to think deeper about relationships.

The "Barely Silent" female dancers appeared to not be wearing dance shoes at all, but after a minute into the piece my companion and I realized that they were going up en pointe (on point, a.k.a. on the very tips of their toes) several times and without hesitation.

The secret of the graceful transition from flat foot to pointe: incredibly smooth and barely visible pointe shoes.

The choreographers need to be commended on the complementary partnering movement which seems to flow naturally out of the dancers' fingertips and toes. Plus, a signature move, a slap on either the chest, thigh or arm, seemed to occur at least once per piece.

The pieces ranged from a Fosse and Twyla Tharp-inspired jazz piece to a "tango ballet" that left me on my feet clapping.

The one downfall in my opinion was the lack of unison group movement. And when it appeared it was obvious the directors choose to do mainly solos and complementary partnering because each dancer truly adds their own distinct style to the movement. When two or more dancers performed the same exact movement, I became lost in finding the differences rather than enthralled by the unique choreography.

However, it is also my belief that this type of distinction in movement and style is fostered in the Complexions company, and encouraged during group pieces.

Either way, the mix of genres, the enthusiasm, energy and pizazz of the choreography all lend themselves beautifully to an entertaining dance show that anyone can appreciate.