Where Fashion and Dance Collide: “Dance For All” at Dupont Underground
By • October 17, 2024 0 322
By Lucy Cullen
The Washington Ballet recently performed at Dupont Underground, an arts organization that has transformed the abandoned space under Dupont Circle into a space for contemporary arts. Partnering with the fashion company Max Mara, the Ballet’s Studio Company dancers brought each piece of clothing they modeled to life with their performance. Choreographed by Artistic Director Edwaard Liang and accompanied by Emmy Award-winning composer and conductor Blake Neely, the dancers portrayed an emotional story of friendship, loss and reunion.
Upon entering Dupont Underground, guests were greeted with a unique exhibit titled “El Rebozo,” featuring art from Mexican women artists to highlight the significance of the titular Mexican shawl. Before the full performance began, there was a brief introductory performance by two of the company dancers. Guests stood watching along the train tracks, before continuing to the main performance farther down along the tracks.
A full stage was set up, with lighting and sound equipment, rows of seats and a small accompanying band. As the lights dimmed, choreographer Edwaard Liang took the stage to share his gratitude and appreciation for the performers, the Washington Ballet and everyone in the audience. Liang described the awaited performance as a place “where fashion, dance, and art collide.”
The dancers then took the stage wearing vibrant leotards underneath beige linen suits, a contrast that added to the emotion of their performance and the music. Each dancer stood out in their own way, not only because of their bright outfits, but also because of the way they each portrayed an impressive range of emotions. Their faces passionately communicated what their bodies were physically expressing.
The music switched multiple times from solely instrumentals to featuring vocalist Sherri Yung. It ranged from upbeat and cheerful to meditative and ballad-like. Several times, the dancers would sit on the stage and watch the musical performance, showing that the music was not just an accompaniment to the dancers but rather an active participant in their performance.
Even without words, the dancers and musicians effectively depicted a story from beginning to end that ultimately brought the audience to a full standing ovation. The fashion paired with the atmosphere of Dupont Underground created a beautifully creative, expressive and innovative performance from The Washington Ballet.
