This company's Cinco de Mayo celebration features three Latino choreographers. They are wonderful and rank right up there with ABT, Alvin Ailey, and the Joffrey in terms of artistry and talent which includes thoroughly selling the entire program to the audience. These dancers emote and project quite effectively. I became sucked in and willingly followed them to where ever they wanted to take me. The cor. has a very Latin-y feel throughout as do the musical choices, which are mostly in Spanish. One of the featured choreographers is Founder & Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro with Amor Y Dolor (Love & Sorrow) and Quinceanera (Sweet Fifteen), and the other is Gustavo Ramirez Sansano with Luna de Miel (The Honeymoon). However, not all of the dancers are of Latin descent, and the 5 female & 5 male dancers come from very diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. Visit their website http://www.lunanegra.org/ for more info. I’m one of those people that become easily absorbed in other cultures so I soaked this program right up. This company blends Latin and Afro-Caribbean dance forms.
The Luna Negra dancers are very beautiful artistically and physically, which is always nice. They performed at a smaller, intimate venue, the Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago, and since I was in the 3rd row, I can tell you that all five guys are totally hot. With a company this small, I could really focus on each dancer and note how very unique and talented each of them is. I didn’t see any weaknesses only strengths. For example, Dustin Crumbaugh is the most youthful looking dancer but no less talented. Justin Daniel appears more limber and melty-like and is the tallest member. I am unable to distinguish btw two of the ladies, Autumn Eckman and Kirsten Shelton, but I can say that neither moves the same; they each have their own grace and style. Ricardo J. Garcia is a strong, passionate, fiery Latino. Veronica Guadalupe is a lovely classical looking dancer. Anthony Peyla has incredibly defined arms and is amazing to watch. Jorge Quintero Troestch (above pic), is a very cute, sexy, passionate Latino with a tattoo of a dagger on one arm. Vanessa Valecillos is built like Linda Hamilton in “Terminator 2” and is very athletic. Finally, there is Jessica Alejandra Wyatt (above pic), who has a beautiful smile and these sparkling eyes that focus your attention. They each appear strong individually but together make up a wonderful, cohesive ensemble. They also come across as a close knit family.
All of the cor. is unique and wonderful, but the world premiere program, Sugar in the Raw (Azucar Cruda), is an incredible piece by Michelle Manzanales with input from the dancers. The 5 ladies wore the same knee-length, light brown & dark chocolate colored dress while the 5 men wore tight black, stretchy tops (the kind worn by gay men in bars) with brownish-black, snug-fitted, chino pants. Um, watching the guys move in these costumes is worth the admission price alone, but together with the ladies the cor. has lots of intricate and unique partnering and lifts as well as solo work. The men look like men and the ladies like ladies and you could see and feel the strong Latin influence throughout. The playbill says the piece is about exploration of the complexities and subtleties of identity and is a portrait of the beautiful imperfections of humanity. All I know is that the company delivers the piece with lots of heartfelt emotion and passion. It received a standing ovation and applause lasting several minutes. You could feel the energy, humility, humaness and excitement radiating from the dancers, and I look forward to seeing them again in the future.
The Luna Negra dancers are very beautiful artistically and physically, which is always nice. They performed at a smaller, intimate venue, the Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago, and since I was in the 3rd row, I can tell you that all five guys are totally hot. With a company this small, I could really focus on each dancer and note how very unique and talented each of them is. I didn’t see any weaknesses only strengths. For example, Dustin Crumbaugh is the most youthful looking dancer but no less talented. Justin Daniel appears more limber and melty-like and is the tallest member. I am unable to distinguish btw two of the ladies, Autumn Eckman and Kirsten Shelton, but I can say that neither moves the same; they each have their own grace and style. Ricardo J. Garcia is a strong, passionate, fiery Latino. Veronica Guadalupe is a lovely classical looking dancer. Anthony Peyla has incredibly defined arms and is amazing to watch. Jorge Quintero Troestch (above pic), is a very cute, sexy, passionate Latino with a tattoo of a dagger on one arm. Vanessa Valecillos is built like Linda Hamilton in “Terminator 2” and is very athletic. Finally, there is Jessica Alejandra Wyatt (above pic), who has a beautiful smile and these sparkling eyes that focus your attention. They each appear strong individually but together make up a wonderful, cohesive ensemble. They also come across as a close knit family.
All of the cor. is unique and wonderful, but the world premiere program, Sugar in the Raw (Azucar Cruda), is an incredible piece by Michelle Manzanales with input from the dancers. The 5 ladies wore the same knee-length, light brown & dark chocolate colored dress while the 5 men wore tight black, stretchy tops (the kind worn by gay men in bars) with brownish-black, snug-fitted, chino pants. Um, watching the guys move in these costumes is worth the admission price alone, but together with the ladies the cor. has lots of intricate and unique partnering and lifts as well as solo work. The men look like men and the ladies like ladies and you could see and feel the strong Latin influence throughout. The playbill says the piece is about exploration of the complexities and subtleties of identity and is a portrait of the beautiful imperfections of humanity. All I know is that the company delivers the piece with lots of heartfelt emotion and passion. It received a standing ovation and applause lasting several minutes. You could feel the energy, humility, humaness and excitement radiating from the dancers, and I look forward to seeing them again in the future.
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