KCMETROPOLIS.org
Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

On a steamy Sunday afternoon, art-hungry prospectors graciously gathered inside The Nelson-Atkins Museums’ quaint and intimate Atkins Auditorium to observe Owen/Cox Dance Group’s interpretation of Roxy Paine’s Ferment. Inspired by this 56-foot stainless steel sculpture, which in April took permanent residence in the Kansas City Sculpture Park, Jennifer Owen and Brad Cox created a collaborative and unique 20-minute work, A Tree That is a Tree is Not a Tree.

The six dancers began in a tree-like pose, the most concrete moment of the entire piece. As if in slow motion, they broke out individually and into pairs, melding their bodies and displaying true moving art. Laura Jones and Marcus Oatis performed a brief, supportive duet that was reminiscent of different sizes of branches supporting one another. The dancers used their arms and legs to symbolize the sculpture’s bare, protruding branches.

After exploring the space amidst an unhurried and smooth jazz composition, the dancers and musicians switched gears completely, jumping into an upbeat and light hearted yet abrupt section. Honing in on the sculpture’s name, Ferment (meaning agitation or disturbance,) the oral and visual accents were decidedly haphazard. Despite the chaos, there were several controlled, shining moments. Oatis moved with precision and purpose, performing the choreography while adding dimension rather than just miming the steps. Jones was light in comparison, attacking the melody more than the sporadic rhythm, but also displayed an abundance of energy and confidence. Betty Kondo and Michael Davis were a charming pair to watch, as well. Jennifer Owen and Chloé Abel also temporarily took center stage, before opening up the floor to the group again.

Both of the work’s themes were representative of Paine’s Ferment. The dreamlike sequences illustrated the sculpture’s strong, silent silhouette that it exudes on the hill of the Sculpture Park. The harsh, random movement touched on the sculpture’s erratic beauty, which is the base of much nature and art. Owen’s stylistic choreography and Cox’s unconventional arrangement combined pleasing symmetry with asymmetric discordance. The majority of the performance was abstract rather than literal, leaving the audience to take in the visual concepts and transform them into their own work of art, be it a tree or not. 

REVIEW:
Owen/Cox Dance Group
A Tree That is a Tree is Not a Tree
Sunday, July 17 at 2 p.m.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak Street
For more information visit http://www.owencoxdance.org

Top Photo: Laura Jones and Marcus Oatis (Photo by Charles Stonewall)

By Laura Vernaci

Dance Contributor

Laura Vernaci is a Kansas City native who has always been passionate about the arts, particularly dance. She began dance lessons at the young age of five and hasn't stopped since. She trained at the Kansas City Ballet where she became a serious dancer and learned about a professional company. 

She attended Butler University in Indianapolis, IN where she majored in dance. She transferred to Truman State University in Kirksville, MO in 2006 and received a degree in Journalism in May 2008.  Laura spent the 2008-2009 in Duluth, MN dancing professionally for the Minnesota Ballet. She performed in productions such as, "The Nutcracker," "Cinderella" and "Coppelia" as well as world premier ballets created on the company.

She recently moved back to Kansas City and is excited to combine her experience in writing with her passion for dance. In addition to performing and writing, Laura also enjoys teaching dance and choreographing.