From the moment I stepped into the big gray building, I was lured into a world of croisees and leaps, hip rolls and splits, breaking and popping. There were dancers at every corner of the space – and the tapping and sliding of feet along the marble floors became the only sounds in my existence, each and every subtle movement setting off a pulse in my veins. For Choreogrpaher’s Evening, widely acclaimed routines and respected dancers will fill the hallways of the Walker Art Center and the McGuire Theater for a night of exceptional independent dance.

The show began with an installation called “Dances You Might Remember” by Galen Treuer. Dancers lined the hallways leading up to the McGuire Theater, each with their own unique style. Once everyone was seated in the theater, a video called “..Found You” by Patrick Pryor, featuring dancers/choreographers Emily Tyra and Caroline Fermin, showcased dancers that utilized paint in their choreography. This combination of mediums is representative of the beauty of a place like the Walker. I could feel that this was going to be a great performance… and it was. The show, curated by accredited dancer Sally Rousse featured 13 diverse performances. There were a couple of performances which I felt lacked substance while other performances really struck me. One of my personal favorites were the “Battlecats”. Their spin moves, popping and breaking was truly impressive and the choreography was exceptional. Their dance was entitled “Revolution” and featured music by Damien Marley. Their dance was not only fit to my taste, but also seemed to ignite the entire audience. Another one of my other favorites was, “The Evolution of Story” by Dustin Haug & Tamin Totzke, which is also merged mediums – theatrical as well as musical. The concept of multi-disciplinary was an overarching theme for this year’s Choreographer’s Evening. Choreography is more than a collection of movements; it is visual art, theatre, music, even film. I would like to congratulate curator Sally Rousse in her success and encourage you all to check out more performing arts events at the Walker.