COMPLEXIONS is a dance company that is something else – and it always has been.
Founded 14 years ago by former Alvin Ailey stars Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, it has an urban, in-your-face attitude combined with a balletic aplomb. Once in a rare while, the dancers even wear point shoes!
But dance as a contact sport is the name of its longstanding game, and that was evident Tuesday night, as it banged off a two-week season at the Joyce Theater.
Complexions Contemporary Ballet, to give it its full moniker, nowadays spends much of its time touring internationally yet is still based in New York, as are so many of America’s leading dance troupes, whether classic, modern, or, as in this case, third-stream contemporary.
Apart from its avowedly multiracial personnel – it’s not called Complexions without reason – the two constants have been Rhoden as its resident choreographer, and Richardson as its leading dancer.
Richardson, recipient of this year’s Dance Magazine Award, is recognized as one of the special dancers of our time with a unique style – pantherine in its approach, sculptural in its clarity.
He appeared opening night in William Forsythe’s delightfully scatty pas de deux from his “Herman Schmerman,” partnering company newcomer Drew Jacoby, with both dancers shining in the choreography’s witty dislocations.
Choreographic dislocation – often less artfully applied – describes Rhoden’s own style of explosive eclecticism.
Here it was evident in the New York premiere of “Dear Frederic,” set to Chopin’s piano music, and more effectively in the closing work, also for the full company – the boisterously powerful “Pretty Gritty Suite,” based on the music of Nina Simone.
It’s a strong company of handpicked dancers, as was clear in the world premiere of Nicolo Fonte’s intriguing essay in displacement performed by Sabra Perry, Juan Rodriguez and Clifford C. Williams.
Yet Richardson – as he showed again in his sinuous solo “Lament,” originally choreographed for him by Rhoden seven years ago – remains first among his peers.
COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave., at 19th Street.; (212) 242-0800. Through Nov. 25.