The Sky is Falling! at Danceworks

The concept of falling —whether in love, out of love, off bridges or off a bike–creates an intriguing performance through the Danceworks, Inc. production of The Wide Sky is Falling! , which closed out the 2008-09 season at their studio theater last weekend. The program collaborated the choreography of Artistic Director Dani Kuepper together with “countless contributions” from the Danceworks Performance Company while incorporating text from their Aurora Adult Day Care Project.  Even the audience participated on that Friday night with a contribution to the medley Falling Over & Over & 0ver, with a two-line rendition of Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head that expanded on this theme.

The falling theme resonated through each number with fresh inspiration in the hour plus performance. Steps of Caution reminisced about protecting the young from the worries of tricycles and skateboards set to the background music of Rock A Bye Baby. Another number, Landing is Hard, demonstrated soulfully through dance how one partner keeps another from falling apart emotionally during which Simon Eichinger and Kim Johnson-Rockafellow performed a poignant duet that imaginatively used a three-tiered step for a platform. The familiar song London Bridges also delivered an unsettling urgency later in the program through rhythmic movements in The Warning.

But more humorous elements appeared throughout the program including Roller Coaster, offering a choreographic look at this frightening amusement ride as did the company finale, Fast Fall. Each DPC member dressed in tropical floral sundresses or bright polo shirts which added a note of spring’s color to these scenes, and skirts that flowed with each dance step.

While perhaps slightly less compelling or cohesive than other Danceworks productions this year, the evening again appreciated the versatility of DPC and their ability to communicate ideas– including the complexities of falling–through the art of dance. It promotes excitement for their DanceLab events which begin through the summer months starting with “Screen Dance” on July 11. A summer season pass is 60 dollars for these four performances through August 8, promising to become an entertaining element to Milwaukee’s seasonal live arts scene.

For more information regarding summer dance classes for children and adults, or the DanceLab season series call: 414.277.8480 or www.danceworksmke.org