T. Lion Dance/Body Stories and DeXdance present "Border Project" at 2009 Boulder Fringe Festival

Two New York City/New Jersey based dance companies, T. Lion Dance/Body Stories an DeXdance, are presenting a concert at Naropa University's Performing Arts Center, as part of of the 2009 Boulder Fringe Festival. The program lists three works - "The Borders Project", choreographed by T. Lion's Teresa Fellion, "A Way of Seeing," choreographed by DeXdance's Kristin Dexnis, and "Light as Air Heavy as Sound," by both women. However, the three works appear as one, with nothing more than a very short blackouts between them, and different costumes in the third work. In the works the artists explore borders - borders that are invisible and political, and borders people find when they cross them, such as "metaphorical borders" in language, culture, and class. The works use extensive solos and duets by Asian American dancers Hannah Nieh and Lisa Mie, apparently as people struggling through barriers, and "Light as Air ..." uses a recording of an older women telling her life story of coping with life without education and "class." Movement choices include several wonderful moments, which are fleeting. All three works are filled with long - interminably long - ensemble dances to a variety of music choices, some of which include text. Some of that text is abstract as compared to the literal telling of the woman's story. Much of the movement is mundane or seemingly lifted out of some competition event, or classes the dancers took in school, or they approach mime. Most of the dances leave audience wondering how in the world it relates to "borders," or wondering if and when it will end.

It seems clear that these artists have taken on a project, and stories therein that are impossible to convey in a one hour concert. Movement choices are strung together in "run on sentences" where one forgets the subject by the time the movement phrasing reaches the predicate. At times things move so fast even some well crafted phrasing gets lost in the crowd, and the movement qualities of what seem to be competent dancers is compromised. In short the work is brave in concept, has its moments, but needs a drastic editing and to move to a less full agenda and slower pace.

One must honor the dedication and drive of these artists and the hard work and expense that it took to create this work and bring it to Boulder audiences.

Donald K Atwood MFA. Ph,D.

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