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Friday, December 27, 2002

By Jane Vranish

It was a year where the images came tumbling back so strong you could almost taste the movement, so sharp you could cut yourself on the scissor kicks, so colorful that you were blinded by the blazing creativity. From the tap riffs of Gregory Hines to the toe-to-toe "Attack" of Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope, from the inward spirit of Sankai Juku to the classic irreverence of Mark Morris, this was one of the best ever.

But the year belonged to Dance Alloy, dancing on rooftops, in public squares, in the street, on the stage. They seemed everywhere at once, performing brilliantly in Mark Taylor's pungent choreography, yet struggling mightily with economic hardship. So, after what was its strongest season in its 30-year history, it resulted in the loss of executive director Cheryl Difatta and, later this year, Taylor himself.

1. DANCE ALLOY
(NEIGHBORHOOD DANCE CENTER, MAY 1)

It was an unlikely subject for a dance, the day-long life of an insect. But what a celebration -- the dancers flitting and flying about the Alloy's beautiful studio, which was colorfully bedecked with Stephanie Flom's Matisse-like paper images in "Hello, Goodbye -- I'm Dead!"

2. MARK MORRIS DANCE COMPANY
(PITTSBURGH DANCE COUNCIL, BENEDUM CENTER, NOV. 7)

Morris is currently at the top of the modern dance heap, basking in his glory by producing a substantive and moving work like "V," one that was filled with images of determination and fortitude and absolute beauty. A sublime dedication to the memory of Sept. 11.

3. PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE
(BENEDUM, OCT. 7)

"Indigo in Motion" was missing the classic jazz talents of both Stanley Turrentine and Ray Brown, but the company made up for it in other ways -- the enduring richness of Kevin O'Day's "...on the spot" and Vivien Reed's sultry portrayal of Lena Horne.

4. DANCE ALLOY
(NEIGHBORHOOD DANCE CENTER, FEB. 13)

The large white wall in the Neighborhood Dance Center served as a welcome inspiration for the scintillating blend in "New Directions: Dance + Video." Filmmaker Paul Glabicki provided a floating cosmos as a prelude to Taylor's "Translocations: What If," Keller's signature dance with videocam called "Palm" and Victoria Mark's film on "Men."

5. SANKAI JUKU
(PDC, BENEDUM CENTER, OCT. 5)

Artistic director Ushio Amagatsu bathed his company in a golden light, moving the Japanese ensemble's butoh-style dance to another plane. Who could forget that glorious ending, with soft jumps that seemed to melt into the floor?

6. ATTACK THEATRE
(HAZLETT THEATER, DEC. 28, 2001)

This performance slips through the cracks, too late for one list and preceding the time allotment for the new year. But Kope and de la Reza had to be included for their imaginative and unflinching holiday performance, "This Ain't the Nutcracker," where this husband-and-wife duo (and friends) popped in and out of a video screen with artful skill.

7. GREGORY HINES
(PDC, BENEDUM CENTER, MAY 18)

Hines still packs them in with his elegant rhythmic stylings -- no one does it quite the same. They even brought their tap shoes to this performance and joined him in a riffing reverie.

8. PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE
"THE NUTCRACKER"
(CURRENT, BENEDUM)

Even though there is (unbelievably) more to be done, PBT artistic director Terrence Orr came up with a winner, spending his $2.5 million wisely on Zack Brown's spectacular sets and costumes. This one is destined to become a Pittsburgh holiday tradition in which the city, reflected in the Mount Washington, Shadyside, Kaufmann's and Heinz set pieces, has never looked better.

9. PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE DANCERS TRUST (KELLY STRAYHORN COMMUNITY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, MARCH 15)

This turned out to be a fun collection of short ballets that showcased PBT dancers in a brand new way. Daisuke Takeuchi's magnificent jumps almost went through the roof in "Diana and Acteon," with Richard Bowman providing an authoritative "Apollo." For the finale, choreographer Terrence Marling encased his dancers in some slinky steps for "the lowdown."

10. JENNIFER KELLER
(KELLY-STRAYHORN, SEPT. 25)

Kudos to Keller for assembling her own "Body of Work," a daunting task rarely undertaken with such success by an independent local dancer. Of course, she had help -- most notably husband Dennis Birkes, an astounding Michele de la Reza and super pal Gwen Hunter Ritchie. But it was Keller's night all the way.