4 Page 10.-The Michigan Daily-Friday, September 25, 1987 People Dancing' encourages new forms .By Amy Koch oid of tu-tu's and other exaneous dance paraphanelia, Whitley Setrakian and her People Dancing company break the mold of stereotypical dance as they bound across Lydiia Mendelssohn stage in explosion of motion and emotion. An intriguing and innovative combination, People Dancing will perform five modern dances while accompanied by the Ann Arbor Chamber Orchestra. Whitley Setrakian, founder, choreographer, and artistic director of People Dancing, is a native New Yorker who is definitely wise to the happenings of the art world. Not only has she studied at NYC's High School of the Performing Arts (of Fame fame), American Ballet Center, and Alvin Ailey School, but she has also attended and taught at the University. Setrakian's founding of People Dancing in 1983 gave her the opportunity to employ her theatrical talents and provide the public with her perception of dance. Thriving on experimentation, Setrakian's combination of theatrics, speech, movement and props make her CANTERBURY HOUSE Sunday Schedule (The Chaplaincy of the Episcopal Church to the U-M Community) 218 N. Division St. Lunch following the 10:00 a.m. Eucharist at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (across Catherine St. from Canterbury House) 5:00 p.m. Eucharist (followed by supper) works comparable to drama. Sorry all you Business School types, but in order to appreciate People Dancing's symbolic content, you must let rationality rest for two hours and not intellectualize a literal thematic message. Rather, as Setrakian asserts, "let the images wash over you like a dream so you can come away feeling like you have experienced something." Similar to theatre, the five featured dances all carry a distinct theme or feeling throughout the dance. "Fond du Lac," a macabre study of Victorian repression, embodies Setrakian's "marriage of theatre, dance and humor." I n contrast to "classical" dance, Setrakian replaces the graceful leaps of the seemingly "programmed" ballerina with crawling, erratic movements, and insightful facial expressions. All such actions succeed in supplying an overwhelming sense of lonliness to the piece. Moreover, these actions lend the dance a surreal quality because each dancer is so involved with his own movement that, even when touching others, he is psychologically isolated. Spontaneity is a key element in a People Dancing production. It is not uncommon for, as in "Fond du Lac," Setrakian to suddenly pull out chairs, disrobe, or stop all music and insert dialogue into the dance. The dialogue is extremely functional in that it both provides a sense of ° ',, - , ALL WELCOME Members of the innovative Ann Arbor dance company 'People Dancing.' t k I 9 U * .. t.ii.. drama and gives concrete background to an abstract art. Though I only viewed "Fond du Lac" at the rehearsal, it's impressive presentation justifies me in feeling that the other four works will be just as promising. People Dancing, accompanied by the Ann Arbor Chamber Orchestra, will be performing Baroque Goes Modern at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre tonight and tomorrow night Both performances are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Reserved seats are $8, $10, and $12 available at Firs Position Dancewear, 522 E. Willian Street. SUNDAY, SEPT. 27, 1987 . " A Major Events Presentation F r s BORDERING ON OBNOXIOUS DOMINO'S PIZZA SUPER SUNDAY TWO 10" PIZZAS $6.00 On Sunday Sept. 27, 1987 you can get two 10" Pizzas with one topping for only $6.00! Save $1.26. Additional toppings just 99$ for both pizzas.. Tax included. Offer good only on Sun. Sept. 27,1987 and only betwen the hours of 4pm-12 midnight. No other coupons accepted with this offer. Ann Arbor locations only. ® Domino's Pizza 1987 1' - -P 9. ), 'jr v ""I//{{ J I ',. ".~ } : ".T