By Shelli Park

My first love has always been dance, and though I haven’t actively practiced in a long while, I have been a dancer since I was three years old. Though I’m not dancing now, I’m always ready to experience good dance, but it seems hard to find performances which pull me into the moment and keep me there.

On hearing that Burien Actors Theatre was presenting a dance performance during the Summer season I was both intrigued and skeptical. Very few outstanding modern dance performances ever show themselves here in Burien. I, however, am one to think positively and keep an open mind.

I am pleased to say that Here // Hear, a new dance performance, is an experience that doesn’t disappoint. Kris Wheeler, artistic director of the company, consisting of dancers Noelle Chun, Katherine Cook, Mary Margaret Moore, Calie Swedberg, and Wheeler, and choreographer, brings her experience in life and study to this new work. It is obvious that this isn’t the work of an immature choreographer. Wheeler does more than choreograph in this work. She is crafting a multisensory experience.

The stage is intimate. Seating is arranged in an arc around the wood floor as main performance space, but also uses the stage as observation and holding area for dancers and vocalists. It is a nice use of space and functions well visually, supporting the conversation. A canopy of white strips of fabric enclose the audience and performers in a shared space.

There are three different groups of performers. The dancers, the vocalists, and the chorus, or as I called them in my notes, the Khakis. Each group participates in varying quantities of the movement and vocalization.

As one enters the space the performance has already begun; what feels to be an informal series of mini performances, one after the other, a few at a time. Each dancer inhabits their own space, solitary, but with awareness of others. It is a very pleasant, interesting passage of time. There is introduction of patterns and language.

Ms. Wheeler has done a fantastic job with Music Director Ivory Smith, integrating sound and movement to create a story, but not in a traditional way.

Here // Hear feels allegorical, but not in an obvious, textbook way. It feels unnecessary to define, but extremely relevant. The message could not possibly be conveyed through words. There is too much to say, and language can really muck things up on many levels. Feel the truth here.

There is an incredible amount of responsiveness among the dancers and vocalists. At times, a feeling of catch and release communication. But, also, moments of isolation.

My impression is that, aside from the very beginning and end, the language used was non-specific. There is a lot of native and tribal patterns of vocalization/singing; a universal language used to convey emotion and content.

The vocalists, Scott Adams, Jeppa Hall, Ivory Smith, and Christian Stranne, are wonderfully talented. Their use of sound, and, conversely, silence creates a structure for the movement. Conversely, the vocalists, at times, take their cues from the movement. Their interplay with the dancers, and with each other, creates a very satisfying experiential space.

Wheeler makes effective use of the chorus. The chorus both supports and observes, interacts and judges. In turns, they fill the space, and empty the space to observe the action from the stage. There is a sense of intimacy, at times, and collusion; a natural tendency to move, and gather, in groups; an inclination to react based on the reactions of others; a sudden need to move on, separate.

There are wonderful moments where one of the company dancers is moving through a pattern and another will observe and try out a bit of the movement. Just testing. Not full joining in. Then the moment passes. Another begins movement.

At times, the vocalizations among dancers and singers create a less formal call and response. A pattern is heard, picked up, and made a theme by the singers. An affirmation of moment, a message, no matter that there is not a literal meaning of the message.

Throughout, the lighting fluxuates from dark and cold, to warm and full. A sense of passage of time, but not fully defined as such. The spotlight is used, at times, to highlight different groups for various passages.

The choreography, itself, is lovely. Each dancer has a unique set of movements, it seems, though shared with others. There is so much going on, but never overwhelming. When the dancers work in a tight group, it is beautiful. There is a flowing, amoebic quality to the movement.

My only complaint is that there is a point towards the end where I lost contact with the piece. I disconnected from the organic immersion in the work. The section grows long and monotonous. I feel the piece could be edited down by about ten minutes without compromising the mission.

Here // Hear is a success. Wheeler shows mastery in creating a piece that I can barely wrap words around. The experience is visceral. I am grateful that it is being presented in Burien, and pray more dance comes this way.

REMAINING PERFORMANCES:

• Saturday, June 23 at 8 p.m.
• Sunday June 24 at 2 p.m. – FINALE!

TICKETS
Ticket prices range from $7 to $20. Student tickets are just $10.

For tickets or other information, go to www.burienactorstheatre.org or call 206-242-5180.

HERE // HEAR is sponsored by 4Culture and Pickled & Preserved.

COUPON
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Burien Actors Theatre is located at 14501 4th Ave. S.W. in Burien.