Sia Li Wright (Zuzu) and Anderson Wells (Dance Teacher Pat) in “Dance Nation.” Photo by Nickolas Cummings.
Now playing at Silver Spring Stage, “Dance Nation” by Clare Barron is a coming of age play about several young teenage girls and one boy who are students at a small-town dance studio. (It was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.) The group is readying for a regional, and then national, competition. Lead by their often-demanding Dance Teacher, Pat (Anderson Wells), the teens reveal their inner thoughts and dreams.
Blaser and her talented and energetic ensemble are well worth catching.
Each dancer is given a spotlight throughout the story. Connie (Leena Shrivastava Dev) wants to be the star of the new performance about Gandhi. Amina (Carlotta Capuano) is the present prima ballerina of the group headed for a career in ballet. Sofia (Tristin Evans) is the precocious one, exploring her body and her new sexuality. Boneza Valedez Hanchock is the very confident Ashlee and the inspirational force in the group. Allison Turkel plays Maeve who dreams of flying and doing great things in astro-physics. Sia Li Wright is Zuzu who aspires to be the lead dancer but is daunted by Amina’s talent and drive. Brandon Rothenberg plays Luke, the only male student. He is smitten with Zuzu and chafes when his mother tries to influence his participation in the group. In the performance I saw, Jordan Coscia played The Moms and Vanessa. As Zuzu’s mom (the largest of the roles), she must be a little pushy but supportive.
The actors are, for the most part, several years older than their characters with the exception of Wright who is closer to Zuzu’s age, but obviously a few years older. This more adult casting is customary in productions of “Dance Nation,” including its opening Off-Broadway in 2018. I am guessing this is partly due to the very strong language and sexual situations in the play. After the first few minutes, the real ages of the actors no longer matter. They are able to use this chronological difference to give us a backward glance at youthful pain and joy.
Lee Blaser’s direction keeps the action moving and the actors focused. Michelle Norris and Tristen Evans’ choreography work well within the dancing abilities of the actors. Jeffrey Asjes’ set design is simple with interesting angles that frame the dance class. Blaser and her talented and energetic ensemble are well worth catching.
Running Time: One hour and 50 minutes with no intermission.
Advisory: Contains sexual themes, frequent coarse language, depictions of masturbation, abuse, and injury, and themes related to racism and stereotyping/tokenization in dance performance, suicide, and self-harm.
“Dance Nation” runs through March 24, 2024 at Silver Spring Stage, 10145 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20901. For more information and to purchase tickets, go online.
