FringeNYC 2013: KINEMATIK

Review by Rew David Greer · August 12, 2013

KINEMATIK is a multi-media dance show with two separate pieces by the company’s artistic director Svea Schneider with collaborative choreography from her dancers on the second piece.  The simplicity and precision of Schneider and her dancers’ choreography is inventive and unforgettable at times, occasionally confusing, but always captivating.  Schneider and the Kinematik Dance Theater are exciting new voices in the New York City dance scene and have made their presence known in their FringeNYC debut at the 14th Street Y Theater.

The first piece is entitled "Perfect Prototype".  As soon as the show begins you are overwhelmed by the voguish set and the in your face videography.  Stacked television sets play video of the dancers modeling and applying absurd amounts of makeup.  This video stream by Shraddha Uday Borawake is edited like a music video with close ups of thighs, torsos, faces, on and on cutting perfectly to composer Chris Comforts beats.  A team of videographers crawl about the stage filming the performance handheld or operating a gib.

The dancers are made up to look exactly like the mannequins on stage with them.  They sport skin tight black bodysuits; wear cropped black Bob wigs and bright red lipstick.  When the dancers come to life, they compare themselves to and imitate the mannequins.

The all-female ensemble explores their bodies with physical contact between each other and the mannequins that they manipulate like puppets.  The most spectacular moment of "Perfect Prototype" is a display of exaggerated limbs.  Calling on images of Vishnu the ensemble flaunts their many arms, enormous leg, and plastic torsos.  The piece climaxes with an acceptance of body and removal of clothes.  Don’t worry.  There’s no nudity.  This one is PG-13.

The second piece entitled "Insekta" is a more enigmatic work that I had trouble finding the meaning in, but certainly enjoyed its creativity.  Featuring entrancing projections by Cheng – I Wang and a whole new ensemble of talented company members who perform acrobatics, a dance style fusion of hip hop and breaking, a rave scene, and what appeared to be a human centipede.  Don’t worry.  This is still PG-13. 

Images here stem from nature and the insects that inhabit it.  The piece culminates with strings of fabric woven like a gigantic spider web around the stage, catching the dancers like flies.  A moment that left me bewildered as to its meaning, but not unsatisfied with it aesthetically.

In a narcissistic world where everyone strives to be different and original, Kinematik Dance Theater breaks it down (and gets down) to show us just how singular we are in striving to be like others compared to how beautiful we can be when we accept our natural and unique selves.  The commentary is thrust at you with the same force as their mix of House and Pina Bausch dance moves.

"Perfect Prototype" calls into question the validity of high fashion and pop culture and explores the effects they have on women and the views women have of themselves.  "Perfect Prototype" shows us just how grotesque the world of fashion is as they eventually enter the stage with extended or extra limbs. 

"Insekta" features the most haunting visual of the two pieces.  Two large white satin sacks slithered on stage and then began to writhe and undulate like a hatching cocoon until giving birth to four of the company’s dancers.  It was a powerful and unforgettable moment.

The most remarkable moment of "Insekta" was a rave scene played out on a dark stage.  Dancers entered wielding flashlights, swirling them in concentric patterns that made me feel like I was watching a ballet of fireflies.

KINEMATIK is a visceral experience that will not leave me for a long time.  This is the thought provoking theatre that the New York International Fringe Festival promises and KINEMATIKdelivers.