CELEBRATING ST. LOUIS’ VIBRANT DANCE COMMUNITY
St. Louis Dance HQ’s Blog is a compilation of writings and performance reviews from a variety of St. Louis based dance writers. If you’re interested in sharing your writing on our blog, please email stlouisdancehq@gmail.com.
HQ Review: RESILIENCE’s “Entry Points”
Dancers enter the stage slowly, house lights still up, softly taking the shape of cluttered furniture, discarding belongings in a scrap pile of junk one might find in a broom closet or unfinished basement. As the gentle strumming of the intro music fades into roaring chatter, the stage is prepared with a gentle fervor - a construction ladder is taken off stage right, a dry-mop swept across the floor - before the dancers and the music both climax into a melodic scream, relenting only out of shock of their own volume. This act of preparation serves as an eloquent metaphor for the meticulous groundwork and constant growth that has paved the way for Resilience Dance Company’s explosive entry into its fifth anniversary season. The 2024 edition of Entry Points, Resilience’s annual fall repertory concert, holds absolutely nothing back in its physicality, artistry, and production. Featuring five pieces, all by female choreographers, Entry Points is a thundurous, contemplative, and inspiring journey that digs into and showcases the undoubted range, power, and humanity of Resilience’s eight-person ensemble.
Spotlight On: Emily Haussler for Women’s History Month
Spotlight On: Emily Haussler as Founder, Artistic, and Executive Director of RESILIENCE Dance Company for Women’s History Month.
Spotlight On: Renée Austin
Spotlight On Renée Austin, current company artist with RESILIENCE Dance Company for Black History Month.
HQ Review: RESILIENCE Dance Company’s “Entry Points”
Resilience Dance Company’s newest works were shown at Intersect Arts last weekend and consisted of five distinct dance pieces by an array of choreographers. The evening offered dynamic movement and demonstrated a breadth of tone and content within a 75-minute runtime.
HQ Review: RESILIENCE Dance Company’s “Come With Me”
It was a cold, grey Sunday morning and was well on my way towards spending it sprawled out on my living room couch. My weekend had been filled with eating, drinking, and balancing the realities of a visit from my in-laws. It was fun, but it had worn me out, leaving me craving an afternoon spent watching movies as big as Star Wars but as polished as something by Christopher Nolan. As I scrolled through Netflix, my Outlook calendar reminded me of the RESILIENCE Dance Company’s concert “Come With Me” at Intersect Arts Center in South St. Louis City. Their research-based movement approach and embrace of improvisation have captured my attention every time I’ve been fortunate enough to see them perform. Their dedication to fairly compensating their artists and providing them with access to mental and physical health resources should be an inspiration to other young dance companies.