Starting Over

Between seasons, Minnesota Dance Theatre lost four dancers, including the delicate Mifa Ko and energetic Andrea Bergeman. Making matters worse, for the first part of the season, injuries sidelined Jennifer Hart, one of the company’s stalwarts. To fill the gaps, MDT added young dancers from its school, making many of the company’s dancers under the age of twenty. In younger dancers, you see breakneck fearlessness—wild pirouettes that shouldn’t work, sky-high legs and leaps—but often their performances feel superficial and physical rather than emotional. It looked as if this season wouldn’t be one of MDT’s brightest.

“There are days when we have to start all over again,” says Lise Houlton, MDT artistic director. She’s gotten used to dancers coming and going in her years leading MDT, which has sent dancers to New York City Ballet and other prestigious companies. Still, she’s optimistic—and rightly so.

Last November at the Ritz Theater, in MDT’s first Twin Cities performance of the season, the company shattered any low expectations in a concert notable not only for headlong energy, but also for emotionally intelligent dancing. “You never know how [young dancers] will transform onstage,” says Houlton. “I can’t say I was surprised, but I was thrilled.” These young dancers are disciplined and gifted. They’re learning subtlety and timing from their older counterparts, while at the same time their fresh love for dance infects the entire company—and the audience. “There’s a good spirit to the dancers,” Houlton says. “They’re hungry to do everything they can.”

Even more young energy is on display at this month’s Playin’ at the Pantages concert: The up-and-coming Juilliard-trained dancer Dario Mejia makes his choreographic debut with MDT, and several other pieces feature dancers from Springboard’s preprofessional program.

Will the current crop of exciting talents stick around? “It’s hard on me, but I think it’s inevitable that they’ll want to spread their wings,” Houlton says. Some, she hopes, will stay, or maybe come back later. Meantime, we should enjoy this special group while we can. April 20–22. Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-673-0404

Reach Lightsey Darst at lightseyd@msn.com.