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d a n c e | by M a u r e e n C u r t i s Alice's Wonderlan just G o t Wilder! Alice, as presented by Motus 0 Dance Theatre, is a topsy-turvy world. We've got dancers who talk. Gymnasts who act. Actors who move in startling and innovative ways. Just when you think you've got this highly original piece of entertainment pinned down, it wriggles out of your grasp and bounds off like a white rabbit. If there's any common theme or aspect of the production that has impressed viewers, it is the physicality of the show, which has been described as "part dance, part theatre and part triathlon." The name of the company, Motus phrase modus operandi, things." "The physicality and the humor are what appeal to children," says Artistic Director James Crocker, whose background is in modern dance, street theatre, and sheep sheering. Observers have noted that there are very few children trotting to the bathroom during Alice and, thanks to the highly satirical elements of the show, the matinee dads are not nodding off. Croker's own favourite scene is a "slo-mo" depiction of the croquet game, with him starring as the croquet ball. In another, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee come on stage, one with padded legs and the other with an enhanced upper body, and together they do a ballet number that is visually hilarious. The scenes are performed to a wide range of music, from rock selections by Queen, classical input from Tchaikovsky, and even the title song from the movie Chariots energy of music," says Croker. There is also a circus flavor to Alice, a result of the cast members' background experience in street entertainment. "There's a need for immediacy with street performances. You have to grab the audience because the energy on the street dissipates quickly," Croker reflects. Put that level of vitality on a stage and you've got a super-charged performance. But you can't put Motus 0 Dance Theatre's production of Alice plays at the Centennial Theatre with two shows on January 21, 11:30 am and 2 pm. Call 984.4484 for more informations.. musical theatre productions before heading abroad to perform in 0, is derived from the Latin Europe and dance in Australia. She and James have three teenaged children. The Crokers met the third co-founder of Motus 0 at the Academy of Performing Arts. Jack Lagenhuizen was formerly a national figure skater before taking up dance studies in Toronto. His training is in ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom and modern dance, and he has choreographed productions in Europe and America. Together, as artistic directors of the company, the three strive to create works of physical inventiveness and beauty that portray the "phenomenon of human experience with wit, wonder, and revelation." The development of each production starts with collaboration, as the members of the company improvise with the characters they are portraying. They challenge each other's perceptions in order to "achieve genuine expression." Over time, the scenes gel and the performers focus on building up the physicality of the scenes. Everyone in the company stays in top physical condition; the women need to keep up their weight training so they can do their share of the lifts and throws. "We try to make it look as hard as it is," jokes Croker. which means, "the moving way of doing of Fire. "We're very interested in the Alice into a category, any more than you can categorize the members of the company, who each bring a different skill-set to the stage. At one time, a lot of sheep tried to wriggle out of the arms of James Croker, who left Australia and came to Canada to study theatre, dance, and mime from the Academy of Performing Arts in Cambridge, Ontario. After training and then touring with the academy, he worked as the director of the creative arts program, which entailed producing and organizing tours and teaching. His wife, Cindy Croker, grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she trained in a variety of dance forms including ballet and jazz and tap dancing, as well as gymnastics and voice. She was cast in many 926-6535 H i ? Marine Drive \ V « t W o r n er. B .C. V 7 T IBs r . i \ : 926-6912 / / Anna Wyman School of Dance Arts Register N o w for O u r Winter Term! PreSchoo! Classes (Ballet, Contemporary &. Tap) Adult Classes (Ballet, Con temporary' èsi Tap) Jazz for Teens Tap for Children Professional Training Program Ballet, Jazz & Contemporary Performing Groups J J / / January | February 7