On October 17th, Ballet 314 took the stage at the Touhill Performing Arts Center’s Lee Theatre to showcase their original works centered around the theme of cosmic collections. Artistic director Robert Poe and executive director Rachel Bodi welcomed the audience and outlined the evening, which began with fundraising events and a mission statement. Ballet 314 produces up to 45 community engagement events per season, spanning from community outreach programs to classic works like The Nutcracker.
As the stage lights dimmed and the audience settled into their seats, a video montage with the dancers began to play overhead. A mix of dance styles such as ballet, modern, and contemporary were all displayed, featuring movement outdoors in the open sunlight. The opening dance, titled Arrival, opened with eight dancers on stage and music that slowly began to hum in the background. Each dancer was clad in black leotards and a black pancake tutu that sparkled all the way towards the audience, reflecting the brightness of stars. As the music picked up, the dancers' movements went with it. Fast turn sequences and light footwork took over the stage as the dancers intricately weaved in and out of formations. The eight dancers on stage eventually fluttered off into the wings to reveal a solo moment for one of the dancers. The audience eagerly watched as the dancer held strong dips and landed numerous turns. The lights on stage grew in brightness to reveal another dancer from before, her tutu still sparkling. The pair engaged in impressive partnering sequences filled with partnered leaps and lifts before the rest of the cast returned onto the stage. The piece ended with softer music as cheers and claps began to echo out from the audience.
The next piece, titled Stardust, took the stage with force. Rachel Bodi initiated the piece dressed in a dazzling peach-colored dress lined with sparkling gemstones. The warm lighting enveloped and danced alongside her as if there truly were stardust on stage. She was soon joined by two other dancers who matched the fast-paced nature of the movements with ease and alternated between partnered sequences. Eventually, the trio broke off to display solo moments, each bringing a unique quality to the dance. The dancers delicately moved alongside the music before returning for the final movement sequence that incorporated all three dancers. One standout moment involved a lift sequence where one of the dancers was supported by the rest of the trio. They moved across the stage as one unit as the gems of the costumes left a trail of light in their wake. The dance concluded with a dramatic finish as all three dancers peered out and beyond the audience as if they were looking into space.
The final work of the show, titled Astra Planeta, introduces a cast of dancers that all belong to different planets. The first set of dancers came out in black tutus, as if they were the night sky, adorned with different crown and cape colors such as gold, purple, and deep shades of red. Performed entirely en pointe, the dancers glided around the stage, forming unique patterns and circles that closely resembled the orbit of planets. Solo moments emerged within the group pieces, with some dancers holding arabesques before they fully entered into the center of the stage. The dancers flowed as one cohesive unit with their capes adding an elevated textural element. Swirling turns and fast leaps resemble the fullness captured by the cosmos. As the dance came to a conclusion, the music picked up into one final grand gesture, and the dancers matched it beautifully. Arms extended to the sky, the dancers landed one final triumphant move to assume a final moment of stillness before the music went quiet. The audience burst into cheers for the final moments of the show, where the cast bowed and was joined by the directors and faculty.
Cosmic Collective was an unforgettable show, not just because of the unique and exciting choreography, but because of the genuine joy that radiated from each individual dancer throughout the performance. Ballet 314 has more performances for their 26/27 Season, including The Nutcracker and the World’s Fair this December at Edison Theater. Their commitment to excellence and outstanding dancing is something you do not want to miss.