Dwight Roden and Desmond Richardson’s New York based Complexions Contemporary Ballet Companygreet us with pizzazz and the aplomb of an all star cast. As their second guest appearance to New Zealand in recent years, Complexions latest spectacular extravaganza undeniably lives up to the show’s title.

Majestic dancers grace the stage, and with their powerful and sinewy supple limbs they perform with finesse and flair as true masters of their craft. A mélange of contemporary balletic forms with elements of jazz, hip hop and voguing are presented in a series of three acts which are accompanied by eclectic musical scores of Rachmaninov, Buchanan, and U2.

From the moment the curtain rises, dancers glide across the stage with effortless ease. The precision and energy in their technique and form is faultless as they weave between duets, solo and group segments. Torsos contort and contract, legs are elevated to tremendous heights, and arms and hands move like liquid gold.

Sleek and slinky costumes in a range of deep rich colours grace the dancers’ athletic forms and highlight their lithe limbs. The women’s ballet shoes tap the floor as they rise and fall with lightning speed, and when performing in heels that speed is unremitting and astounding. The men’s agility and strength is profound as they display countless flips, twists, turns and splits. Women appear light as feathers as men lift and transport them from one space to another across the stage.

A visual array of lighting and projected art works provides an effective tool to complement the performance. The frequent use of singular and multiple spotlights sends shafts of light onto the dancers, highlighting their moving forms. As dancers enter and depart the stage, lighting consistently allows our gaze to follow the steady flow of actions as they unfold.

Highlights from the performance include a dramatic and sensual duet between Wendy White Sasser and Juan Rodriguez in My Man (Mon Homme). The fluid and passionate way in which these two dancers perform is simply stunning. A solo performance by Artistic Director Desmond Richardson in Goldberg Variation displays the magnetic and mighty presence of the consummate genius. Marc Caserta, Peter Chursin, Tercell Waters, Patricia Hachey and Christie Partelow sashay and strut in Moody Booty Blues in a fun and engaging manner, in which the audience is taken along for the ride.  

Intermittently the musical score overpowers the actions of the dancers on stage which may have been due in part to its outgoing high volume. The performance has a spectacular entertainment value, yet the works appear to be abstract rather than thematic and choreographic elements are at times somewhat repetitive. 

However, as the grand finale presents the company in its entirety on stage in which rock band U2 provides a musical medley, Rise illustrates a striking visual feast as dancers form well defined structural formations and fly like the wind in and out of each other’s space. As U2 sings the final melody, ‘It’s a Beautiful Day’, we see the dancers let go of all restraint. Their unwavering energy is contagious and as the show comes to an end the audience gives their seal of approval with huge applause and a standing ovation.  

These highly trained and skilled dancers display a level of expertise that is unsurpassable. Judging from the audience’s receptive response, Complexions has undoubtedly entertained and left a significant impression with its Auckland audience on opening night.
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