By Eva Trieger
SAN DIEGO — Music has a way of altering one’s mood and attitude. Dance possesses the capacity to shift one’s perspective while releasing inhibition. The marriage of the two art forms creates nothing less than magical storytelling. Malashock Dance and the Kontras Quartet intertwine their gifts to bring San Diegans High Strung, a third collaborative event for Malashock and Art of Elan. The engagement runs from May 31 through June 2nd.
Past performances include Lifeblood Harmony (2014) and Minor Fall/Major Lift (2017). The Kontras Quartet is the Ensemble-in-Residence, and will share the stage with Malashock’s dancers as they deliver four pieces which are evocative, melodic and intensely beautiful. Audiences will be let in on an historical mystery, a tale of unrequited love, that is told by the vulnerable and passionate string quartet enhanced by intuitive,brooding dancers in Intimate Letters, written by Leos Janacek, Czech composer, folklorist, publicist and teacher.
The mystery that shrouds the Janacek composition has to do with some recent scholarly detective work! There are multiple versions of the piece but a 2010 publication forces the performers to choose what they will ultimately convey. It’s a daunting responsibility because the artists want to do justice to the composer as they are the “ambassadors of his vision.”
In a recent phone interview, John Malashock shared his admiration for Art of Elan, which he stated has “an eclectic but appealing aesthetic about music.” Based on this natural pairing of music and dance, Malashock felt the Kontras Quartet of Chicago would be a good balance for his choreography. Together, the artists decided on the pieces they would perform, each with equal input. The contrast between the two Czech artists, Janacek and Dvorak is marked, and the addition of an American composer will add another layer to the performance.
Malashock’s company first performed in 1986 in a church in Point Loma. Over the intervening years, the dancers have appeared at the Educational Complex in southeast San Diego, as well as the popular and edgy SUSHI Performance and Visual Arts. The choreographer told me that one palpable change since he began is that today’s audiences want more accessibility. “People want to come and feel drawn in by the work.” Malashock revealed that he has matured as an artist, and is finding more joy and less anxiety in his work. Facets of dance that call to him include the sense of drama, the beauty of structure, and the storytelling in the movement. For these qualities, Malashock has high regard for Jose Limon, Jiri Kylian, Pina Bausch and Twyla Tharp as mentors and innovators.
The first piece in the program is one that Malashock choreographed years ago. He was delighted to discover that it is featured in Kontras Quartet repertoire. This “beautiful coincidence” has him excited about returning to the piece by Mary Ellen Childs and Osvaldo Golijov. After Dust is described as an architectural dance about working together to build something unique.
Jean Hatmaker, Cellist (and dancer), spoke with me by phone as well, explaining the origin of Kontras Quartet. The initial members hailed from four different continents and used their contrasts to make their art stronger. The diverse heritages blended Russian, Japanese, English and Afrikanz which created contrast and harmony, making each performer more well-rounded. Hatmaker explained that the quartet looks for the folk music that is the inspiration for the classical compositions. It is the human element that gives the piece its passion. Hatmaker’s quartet is rounded out by First Violinist Eleanor Bartsch, Second Violinist Francois Henkins, and Violist, Ben Weber.
Hatmaker comes from a family of musicians. Both parents are music educators, and Jean and both sisters “played the violin since we were babies.” The cellist confided that had she not pursued a career in music, she’d likely have become a ballerina. Though she did not take her first ballet class until her freshman year in college, Jean quickly became adopted by the student ballet company and danced in many productions en pointe! In one memorable instance this multi-talented woman played cello for Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” and then sprung out of the pit and on to the stage where she danced amid confetti!
Malashock’s dancers and Kontras Quartet won’t actually rehearse together until about one week before the show. Malashock has recordings of the quartet, and has choreographed his dances based upon these. The musicians have been working with Art of Elan, cofounded by Kate Hatmaker, to program performances for two concert seasons annually.
The Lyceum Theater at Horton Plaza will provide the stage for this uniquely captivating event. For more information and tickets please contact LyceumEvents.org or call 619.544.1000. For additional information about the performers see www.artofelan.org, www.malashockdance.org or www.kontrasquartet.com. Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com