Approaching Ecstasy

Olivier Wevers, Cathi Hatch, Steve Jensen, Vincent Lipe

Last night, Christine Gilbert and I had the opportunity to attend a Whim W'Him production at the Intiman Theatre as guests of Artistic Director, Olivier Wevers.  It was opening night and the premiere of their new Approaching Ecstasy which is an engaging new dance collaboration composed by Eric Banks, choreographed by Olivier Wevers, and performed by Whim W'Him dancers, The Esoterics and the St. Helens String Quartet.  The production is part of the Seattle Center's Next 50 Celebration.

The production incorporates 40 singers, 5 instrumentalists and 7 dancers and is based on 18 love poems by Constantine P. Cavafy.  Each of the 18 vignettes creates a different mood, some more literal than others.  One of my favorites was danced by PNB Principal Dancer and Whim W'Him company member, Lucien Postlewaite with Andrew Bartee, another PNB and Whim W'Him dancer who were looking into a mirror and completely replicating the other's movements until finally the mirror "cracked" and they were able to step through the mirror and dance together.  Other favorites vignettes included PNB Principal Dancer and Whim W'Him company member, Kaori Nakamura and Andrew Bartee  in the first vignette dancing with a table.

The theatre was completely full and it was fun to see many people, that I primarily know from PNB, there to see the production including Francia Russell & Kent Stowell, Glenn Kawasaki, Steve Jensen & Vincent Lipe, Kathy Gerlich, April & Steve Kieburtz, John & Melba Short, Duell Fisher, Colette Courtion, Linda Sahlin,  Ariana Lallone, Carrie Imler, Candy & Rocky Koreis, Margo Spellman, Wayne Thurman, Juan Alonso, Nona Battistella, and dozens of others.

Congratulations to Olivier, who has done a fantastic job of bringing together a new dance company for our region, on his biggest undertaking to date!