Malashock let his hair down with ‘Raw 5’

By Eric George Tauber

SAN DIEGO — If you follow the modern dance scene in San Diego, then you already know the name “Malashock.” A former company member of Twyla Tharp’s, John Malashock dances have been commissioned by SD Opera, SD Symphony, the Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse among others. His dance films have been aired nationally on PBS and won Emmy Awards.

Malashock describes his “Raw” series as “our chance to let our hair down and stretch our wings.” His company of ten young dancers had some powerful wings to spread.

“Departure of the Youngsters” was a piece choreographed in 1989 and now revisited. The original music -composed by Mark Attebery- has a strong, steady pulse with low, breathy, haunting winds. It features a moody adolescent, Andrew Holmes, who resists all efforts to reach him and pull him out of his funk. He pushes others away, but doesn’t really want them to go away. Other “tough love” struggles ensue. The dance was as much about the tense, focused stillness as the movement. It takes a patient, focused eye to appreciate it. But if you do, the intensity is compelling.

“The universe doesn’t always go along with the way we think things should be.” That was the theme of the second piece, “Uneasy Surrender.” The dancers moved around each other likes parts of a well-oiled machine. Everything seems to be in working order … until they get hairy.

The dancers were lifted, swung, twirled, leapt over, crawled under and even balanced precariously on one another. The body contact gets pretty intimate and requires their utter, unreserved trust. Rather than shaking an angry fist at the universe, this was an optimistic piece about letting go and flowing with the current rather than fighting it.

“Party of One” is about “being alone in a world seemingly designed for couples.” Who can’t relate? We’ve all been there at some point in our lives. While the couples dance together, the loners try desperately to fit in. But the couples are too absorbed in each other to notice.

A wild-haired girl, Stephanie Harvey, did try to pull the lone man, Justin L Viernes, onto the dance floor for Whitney Houston’s “I wanna dance with somebody.” Her wild abandon might have been what he needed, but she came on a little too strong.

My favorite moment was when the lone woman, Lara Segura, manipulated Andrew Holmes like a puppet to fight back against his controlling and abusive lover, Blythe Barton. Yet it’s not a picture of a man manning up. He’s still being manipulated, literally.

Finally, the lone man and woman do come together singing “Moon River” karaoke style in a big singalong. Shmaltsy, but fun.

Raw 5 is just what the name indicates, unfettered emotion expressed through bold athleticism. They ran the gamut: intense, frightened, frightening, moody, loving, lonely, awkward and light-heartedly funny. The ensemble had powerful chemistry together supported by complete trust. More than entertainment, Malashock Dance was a feast for hungry souls.

A future work that I am looking forward to is John Malashock’s collaboration with Yale Strom at the La Jolla Playhouse: a dance musical based on the life, work and relationships of artist Marc Chagall. Keep your eyes open.

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Eric George Tauber is a freelance writer who specializes in the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com