Love and Other Impossibilities (2006)
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Choreography Jennifer Backhaus |
Awards and Nominations
Lester Horton Award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography - Short Form
Lester Horton Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Performance - Company
Reviews
Backhaus’ “Love and Other Impossibilities” was an elegant yet thoroughly campy tango, a mixture you’ll
never see at an Arthur Murray studio, but if only you could. Most choreographers are wise to avoid mixing
dance with comedy as the outcome is usually awful, but Backhaus nailed this challenging art form. Music by
Pink Martini takes you back in time with a spicy Latin beat. The men, Cook and Lu, appeared in powder blue
shirts, the women in colorful satin gowns designed by Rhonda Earick. At first they seemed to be doing plain
social dancing, but then came wiggled butts and odd lifts.
The women chased after Lu and Cook and latched onto them in every way they could. Lu looks nothing like
Gene Kelly, but he played the “Ladies’ Man” especially well with technical skill and understated huffing and
eye rolls. The group twirled in amazingly tight unison, yet seemed to be begging for more champagne – they
were total horn dog flirts and all of it was hilarious. At one point they all stepped toward the edge of the stage
and winked and blew kisses to the audience. The audience gave them a standing ovation. If you missed
Backhaus, don’t fret. You can catch them in Long Beach September 8 and 9. It’ll be worth the drive.
-Kris Eitland, Eveoke Dance Theatre
Backhaus took some nightclub-flavored vocal and instrumental numbers by Pink Martini and created ballroom- and Latin-style couples' dances. The company's dancers are fresh and perky, and they resembled bobby-soxers all dressed up and looking for love. The shiny, hem-swishing, waist-pinched dresses by costume designer Rhonda Earick perfectly matched the mood.
-Laura Blieberg, The Orange County Register
