Uplifting aerial dance program performs in T.O.
By Cary Ginell soundthink@aol.com

Aerial dance is a relatively new performing art form that combines elements of dance and acrobatics in a highly stimulating and entertaining fashion.

Revelations is the newly minted aerial dance company of Ventura County, led by producer Susie Bellows and artistic director Nikki Blakeslee. Together, they put on "Conversations, a Dialogue in Movement," a uniquely choreographed "concert," as they called it, which was staged at the Civic Arts Plaza's Scherr Forum last weekend.

The idea of aerial dance is to expand dance into a multidimensional art form, utilizing vertical as well as the traditional horizontal space. Three separate troupes joined forces to present the program: a Junior Company, which includes girls as young as 10; a Senior Company; and a Professional Company.

The vertical dances are typified by a variety of apparatus used, which are hung from the ceiling above the stage. From these devices, dancers suspended, twirled, gyrated and performed gravitydefying feats (without harnesses) that can best be described as a combination of circus acrobatics and gymnastics.

Space-age music accompanied most of the movements, although one interpretation was scored with a rendition of the Beatles' "Something."

The first segment, "Family Photo," introduced all the dancers who posed inside an outsized picture frame before literally leaping out of the picture to perform their routines. Sara Romanowski was spectacular as she suspended herself from a silk drape, keeping herself aloft by wrapping the silk around legs and arms.

In "Luna Bella," Blakeslee and Brenda Hamilton performed an aerial duet using two large hoops as their apparatus of choice. The two finished the segment by performing together on a single hoop, combining the grace of ballet with the balance and strength of Olympic gymnasts.

Most of the segments were abstract in nature, created by a staff of seasoned dance choreographers. In addition to Blakeslee and Hamilton, the creative staff included Nicole Harlan, Mandy Moore, Alexandra Little and Terry Beeman, each of whom possesses stellar credits in television, films and videos.

In one arresting segment, entitled "Nothing Noticed," the music stopped as guest artist Robert Roldan joined Mary Bellows and Julia Fenton of the Professional Company in a riveting and exquisite pas de trois. With the hall in dead silence, one could easily sense the strenuous work of the trio's performance through their sometimes labored breathing.

The segment entitled "Disconnected," also performed by the Professional Company, was the most humorous. The members engaged in a virtual spy thriller, with cellphones and a laptop included as props. Valentina Alexandria Savery performed a stunning exhibition on a low-slung trapeze, exhibiting incredible control and balance.

One doesn't have to be familiar with dance to appreciate the colorful and exciting display of talent as shown by Revelations. If you missed this dazzling display of artistic ingenuity and creativity, don't miss it the next time they perform.