Ririe-Woodbury's 'Interiors' is poignant look at relationships

"INTERIORS," the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Rose Wagner Center, Wednesday, additional performances Friday, Saturday and Sunday (355-2787)

The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, along with choreographer and artistic director Charlotte Boye-Christensen, offers a gift of dynamic modern dance to Salt Lake City.

"Interiors," the world-premiere piece, which happens to be the title of the night's program, juxtaposes Boye-Christensen's choreography with video directed by local artist Trent Call.

The work examines the rough-and-tumble world of relationships and human connection in this day of technology and aliases. The dancers — Jo Blake, Erin Lehua Brown, Andrea Dispenziere, Caine Keenan, T.J. Spaur and Elizabeth Kelley Wilberg — push and shove their way across the stage.

However, the pushing lends itself to some poignant moments when the dancers try to reach out to each other but recoil from fear or misunderstanding.

Adding to the sharpness of the work is music by Nick Cave, Yo La Tengo and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The program opens with an intense number called "Lost."

This piece, which was created last year, was inspired by artwork from various Mexican artists who have been involved in illegal immigration and/or gangs. The unstable world of the disenfranchised shines through the pure and sometimes heartbreaking and violent movement that Boye-Christensen sets upon the dancers.

A lighter number in the program is 2002's "The Visit." Boye-Christensen's whimsical study of group therapy uses the operatic voice of Cathy Berberian and the chamber orchestra-arrangements of Beatles tunes to find its groove. Guest dancer and former RWDC member Ai Fujii Nelson adds her personality into the funny, endearing and well-timed work.

"Bridge" (2005) and "Excerpts from 'Chairs, Basically"' (2007) rounds out the production. The first is an abstract examination of the Shaker religion. It takes on, yet again, the idea of relationships as seen through the different genders. "Chairs, Basically" deals with the nostalgia and iconic imagery of the Argentine tango.

The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company dancers were up to the challenge of each of these pieces. And through it all, they — as well as the audience — could see just how multifaceted Boye-Christensen' choreography continues to be.

E-MAIL: scott@desnews.com