Appendix 2
Complexions Contemporary Ballet
New York, USA
INNERVISIONS
April 23, 24, 2014
«Complexions is more than dance: it is language itself» Daily Progress
«Musicality, Innovation, Purpose, Consistency…A brilliant use of stage space and the
ability to tell a story» Los Angeles Times
«Mr. Rhoden’s Choreography was like hot molten lava; flowing with undeniable power» The
New York Times
«Complexions...made it sensationally jaw droppingly clear that we live in the age of superdance,
at a time when technical virtuosity is being redefined as an expressive state» Dance Magazine
The Program lined up by Complexions Contemporary Ballet especially for DANCE OPEN
Festival is called “INNERVISIONS” and includes 3 parts.
The opening piece Moon Over Jupiter (2010) by Dwight Rhoden set to music of
SergeiRachmaninoff. The choreographer uses spectacularly polyphonic approach to visualize the
polyphony itself.
The second part is a European premiere of the Recur ballet (2013) which is set to a sound collage
of pieces by five composers. According to Jae Man Joo, the stage director, «life is about things that
happen to us that are only important when we look back at them. If they stay with us they become part of
us. If not they are cast off».
The final part of the performance is a European premiere of the Innervisionsshowitself (2013).
This is a light and joyful composition which is inspired by the legendary Stevie Wonder’s music whose
name has never been mentioned before in connection with choreographic performances.
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Complexions Contemporary Ballet – is a new daring vision to plasticity and dance in general. Its
founders are Dwight Rhoden, one of the most important choreographers in the world, and dancer
Desmond Richardson titled «great» and «legendary». Complexions Ballet is not trying to deal with
issues of the modern age or to be philosophical on stage. The main thing for them is dance as art of the
body movement. The choreographers and dancers indulge in elegance, grace and virtuosity of
movements exploring them at different angles and in variable musical environment: from classical music
to modern pop-music. Setting the pace of striving for innovation, mixing and combining different
cultures, creating daring and vanguard performances, Complexions remain loyal to their creative credo –
showing diversity and multiplicity of the world. In 2014 the company celebrates its 20th anniversary (it
was founded back in 1994).
«We have created in Complexions an institution that
embodies its historical moment, a sanctuary where those passionate about dance can celebrate
its past while simultaneously building its future. In the 16 years since its inception, the company has
born witness to a world that is becoming more fluid, more changeable, and more culturally
interconnected than ever before—in other words, a world that is becoming more and more like
Complexions itself»
Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson
Dwight Rhoden is one of the most important contemporary choreographers (The New York Times). He
has created over 80 performances for Complexions as well as other famous theaters of the world
including Mariinsky Theater. He has staged lots of performances for U2, Lenny Kravitz, Prince and
many other musicians.
Jae Man Joo is a dancer, choreographer, associate artistic director of Complexions and author of some
pieces, Princess Grace Award recipient choreographer (2009) for Excellence in choreography. Together
with Dwight Rhoden they started a worldwide education project «CODE 3- 3 Artistic Director's
Education & Movement creation project».
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