129 East 7th    Ames, Iowa 50010    515 232-7374  fax 515 233-9290
                                                                                                               Email for more info

Review of Officium

Moving Through Time
February 3, 4, 9, 10, 1996
Written by Marge Bennett Folger for Arts Dialogue

To be truly moved by a work of art is often a rare occasion, but one that is exhilarating. I experienced that feeling in early February at Co'Motion Dance Theater's performance of Officium at the Ames City Auditorium.

Officium, directed and choreographed by Valerie Williams, is based on the Medieval Book of Hours, which divided time into eight sections according to the church's canonical hours of the day.

Collaborating with visual artist Carol Prusa, Williams divided her peices into these "hours", each an interpretation of the emotions and feelings associated with each time of the day. Prusa participated as a dancer, moviing concrete blocks constantly throughout, while dancers Williams, Lana Lyddon Hatten and Paula McArthur moved amongst and apart from the blocks. The blocks and their movement were a constatnt, a reminder of the continual passage of time. The dancers wove themselves through the blocks and danced on them. The blocks defined their space, enclosed and encased them and yet, all the while, the movement was constant as well. time moves, we move through time. Focus shifted continually from one to the other, neither was a distraction to the other.

All the dancers had a hand in the choreography, developing movement phrases that were reflective of their own responses to the different times of the day. The movement intiially free, fluid and gentle, eventually became pedestrian as we moveed into the 'work' hours. I was jarred at first by the introduction of a recorded voice, after the soothing music of the Hilliard Ensemble, but soon adjusted and expecially enjoyed the "slapping" confrontation between Hatten and McArthur. The confrontation grew into abstracted movement and once again showed us the strength of this company who works so well together.

The trio should also be commended for their ability to go beyond just performing dance steps. they always connect movement with emotion. the feel, so I feel.

As the piece moved into the Sleep, Entombment section, I found myself getting ahead of the block moveent, anticipating and tiring (for the first time) of the placement. It became predictable. But, as I reflect back on my own days, my schedule is also predictable by that time of the night. Might the stage be reflecting our own rituals?

I believe Officium is one of Valerie Williams' strongest works. It is a complete piece, start to finish, strong in concept, movement and execution. Every section connected to the whole, creating a piece that elicits emotion from its viewers, and so "moves" its audience.



Valerie Williams Co'Motion Dance Theater is in residence at Iowa State University Department of Health and Human Performance