Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers – On the Road

reviewed by Paula Citron
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On the Road
Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dances
Choreographed by Rachel Browne, Brent Lott and Lesandra Dodson
Performed by Lise McMillan, Kristin Haigt, Johanna Riley and Sarah Roche
At Winchester Street Theatre
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Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers is Canada’s oldest dance company outside ballet. To celebrate its 45th season, WCD made an all too rare visit with a program called On the Road which featured assorted works from the repertoire.

WCD remains rooted in modern dance. While the two works from founder Rachel Browne represented the glories of the past, Lesandra Dodson’s use of text put her on the more contemporary side of things, with current artistic director Brent Lott falling somewhere in the middle. The works ranged from 1992 to 2009 which provided an interesting retrospective and a very satisfying evening.

I’ve said before that watching beautifully trained bodies performing well-crafted works of substance makes for great dance. Browne’ pieces were hauntingly beautiful, Lott’s were enigmatic and intriguing, with Dodson showing her always quirky individuality masking layers of depth.

Whether in Browne’s living sculpture, or Lott’s reflections, or Dodson’s explosive energy, the four women of this company did their town proud.