Codice Rosso at ReVision by Forward Motion Theater, July 8, 2011

by L. Barry
(New York, NY, USA)

Codice Rosso Theatre presented two dance theater works at ReVision by Forward Motion Theater at Secret Theater, July 7-8, 2011. Codice Rosso translated as "Code Red" or emergency lives up to this name. Both pieces "I am What I am Not" (2011) and "Unbearable" (premiere) are conceived by international choreographer / dancer, Gessica Paperini.

"I am What I am Not" is a vision of reality exploring internal and external definitions of who we are and who we are not. Combining dance, spoken word in English and Italian, character development, and video projections, Ms. Paperini takes the audience on a journey of self-reflection and self-belief. It feels like a mirror image of how we perceive the truth about ourselves and how others see it too. Comprised of five sections with several costumes changes, Paperini successfully illustrates the inner psyche. Seamless transitions and carefully crafted sequencing, her vision displays a rich movement vocabulary with intensity and meaning. Paperini accomplishes a challenging feat of highlighting each dancer individually while training them as a unified group expressing her detailed idiosyncratic movements. “I am even I am not” is the reply to our inner puzzle. We are and we exist in all interpretations of reality. This cannot be ignored.

"Unbearable" takes us on an emotional rollercoaster of human interaction. Performed by Gessica Paperini and Valentina Priolo, this dance is like a never-ending spiral filled with chance and small coincidences. Ms. Paperini incorporates all emotions from yearning, acceptance, violence, happiness, playfulness, and at times gentleness. Set as if the audience is peaking in through the window of an intimate relationship, we experience something tender, gripping, and truthful. The finals moments of "Unbearable" are haunting and heart wrenching. Ms. Priolo takes a long pair of silver scissors out of a box and begins to cut off her hair. Ms. Paperini desperately begins to tape the fallen pieces back onto Ms. Priolo’s head. The imagery and meaning are so profound.

Ms. Paperini’s choreography is intelligent and entertaining. She encompasses a strong voice saturated with remarkable talent.

L. Barry, July 2011.