It’s always a big risk for a painter, composer or choreographer ensconced in the world of so-called high art to cross over and create something with a populist bent.
The dangers include winding up with an awkward, confused hybrid that proves to be an audience turnoff or producing something that works so hard to cater to the masses that it sacrifices artistic credibility.
“Remember Me” (2009), acclaimed modern-dance choreographer David Parsons’ first venture into this realm, comes perilously close to succumbing to the latter pitfall. But it is saved by the power and energy of the high-voltage performances by Parsons Dance and the visceral emotions it generates.
Probably best described as a dance musical, the 75-minute work tells the simplistic yet at times confusing story of a love triangle. The main protagonist (Melissa Ullom) has to choose between two lovers (Eric Bourne and Miguel Quinones), then is torn from the one she chooses and ultimately dies.
The work is set to arrangements of famous operatic arias that have been juiced up and given a beat. Two onstage vocalists perform to a recorded soundtrack performed on classical and electronic instruments by the East Village Opera Company.
At times, this music sinks dangerously close to Andrew Lloyd Webber, but at its best, the synthesis of styles is fresh and captivating, especially in the hands of the two fine singers — Tyley Ross and the amazing AnnMarie Milazzo.
In selections such as the “Habanera” from “Carmen,” one almost forgot about the dance and fixated on Milazzo’s transporting vocalizations, especially her smoky and at times expressively throaty low register.
Except for a few moments, such as a clever floor pas de quatre or an interlocking chain of dancers performing rowing and wave patterns, there is little that is particularly original about the movement.
Instead, Parsons relies on familiar motifs such as drop spins, swinging arms, undulating bodies and provocative preening that offer little to dance aficionados but effectively serve the story and the music.
Whatever else can be said about “Remember Me,” it is a crowd-pleaser, drawing cheers after nearly every section.
The work will be repeated at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek.
Kyle MacMillan: 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com
