'AN EVENING OF DANCE AT THE BUTLER' Toes to tap, interpret art with various music

YOUNGSTOWN -- A little jazz, a taste of tap.
Some modern and ballet.
Not to mention Monjoni.
The various disciplines will be all over The Butler Institute of American Art on March 11 and 12 as Ballet Western Reserve, Harambee Dancers and the Ari Kessler Jazz Trio invade the museum.
During "An Evening of Dance at the Butler," 15 advanced and 10 intermediate dancers from BWR will combine talents with 11 Harambee Dancers to interpret seven paintings through dance. The "Evening" is an annual affair, but BWR tries to find new wrinkles each year.
This year, the show begins at 6 with a roving cocktail party. The Ari Kessler Jazz Trio will perform, with a couple of dancers in front of each painting to be interpreted. The dancers will be "doing subtle movements," said BWR artistic director Anita Lin, "a hint of the dance to follow."
"This year, at 6:30, we will be doing a preview of a new style -- tap -- to music of Miles Davis, danced to a painting called 'Blackout' by Viktor Schreckengost, and choreographed by Tracy Schuler," said Lin. "This is not Broadway-style tap, but based on sounds and rhythms of the city."
The performance begins at 7 p.m. on a stage between the museum's front pillars, in front of a banner by Joe Rudenic, who also creates the banners outside The Butler.
"In the past, we have had the paintings projected onto a screen," said Lin, "but this year, there will be photos of them on this backdrop."
Spicy art, spicy dance
Lin choreographed the dance to the painting "Mexican Past" by Robert Motherwell. "It's a spicy piece," she said. "The female dancers will wear long, swooping skirts, two in black, two in brown and one in white [to match the colors of the painting]. The male dancer will be in black and brown."
The piece is a character ballad, a blend, Lin said.
"I love to do blends," she said. "I'm a classical dancer, but I love Latin music. I went to Cuba and trained in Afro-Cuban dance."
A painting called "Phenomenal North Gobi Wind" will come to life with Irish step dance, in a piece choreographed by Brendan Trewella, who also will dance. "Brendan placed fifth in the World Competition for Irish Step Dance," said Lin. "His three sisters, who study at Burke School of Irish Dance in Youngstown, are joining us. This very strong and vibrant piece closes the first act. It is also the largest group piece, except for the finale."
The finale is a collaboration between the company and the Harambee dancers, and is the only one using live music -- five percussionists.
"I am used to collaborating because of dancing professionally, so I make sure the company collaborates with as many groups as possible: arts organizations, the Butler, YSU, the [Youngstown] Playhouse, [Youngstown] Symphony," said Lin. "This was another opportunity for us to collaborate. The Harambee Youth Organization came in and worked with us in one-on-one instruction, like a seminar, which created a bond between us. The ballet dancers had to learn how to free up their bodies, not hold them rigid, as in ballet. Rhonda Taylor is the instructor of traditional African dance."
The painting they will bring to life is called "Children Dancing" by Robert Gwathmey.
"Monjoni is the type of dance we will be doing," said Lin. "Both companies perform together, then each dancer is highlighted. Monjoni was chosen because it is high-spirited and energetic. It shows off articulation of movement and the percussion. We wanted the audience to clap their hands and stomp their feet, to get caught up in the energy, an uplifting piece for a grand finale."