The Palm: Parsons Dance Live 2/11/2014

04 Feb The Palm: Parsons Dance Live 2/11/2014

“[Parsons] dancers are picked for their virtuosity, energy and sexiness. They attack the audience and stage like gangbusters,” said The New York Post of the company.

Exuberant kicks. Whiplash spins. Sassy head rolls. Overall athleticism. Impeccable ensemble work. Pure joy. Big heat.

That’s Parson’s Dance Company in a nutshell.

Following a career as a lead dancer with the legendary Paul Taylor Dance Company, David Parsons founded his own ensemble company, now featuring eight full-time dancers, in 1985. Parsons Dance has performed in more than 350 cities, 30 countries, and on five continents for the most prestigious theaters, festivals and presenters worldwide, including The Joyce Theater, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Maison de la Danse, Teatro La Fenice, and Teatro Muncipal.

An early Valentine to the community, the contemporary dance troupe performs Tuesday, February 11, 7 p.m., at Telluride’s Palm Theatre.

 “It does not take long to see why Parsons and his company are one of the hottest tickets in contemporary American dance. First, they are all terrific performers, energized, eager to please and rehearsed within an inch of their lives. Second…Parsons provides choreography that’s consistently intelligent, witty, well-crafted, and humane,”  raved The Toronto Star.

One of the numbers in the evening’s repertoire is Parson’s signature work “Caught.”

Once upon a time, Parsons was a stunt model. In that role, a photographer would capture him leaping in midair. As a choreographer, Parsons became intrigued as to how he could create the illusion of being up in the air and sustain it through an entire number.

“Parsons without ‘Caught’ is like Sinatra without ‘New York, New York”,” said The Washington Post.

The now middle-aged Parsons, who grew up in Kansas City, Mo., supposedly looked like a young Patrick Swayze when he danced “Caught,” which includes 100 jumps, or nearly one jump every three seconds in the five-minute, 14-second piece. These days a younger dancer, sometimes a woman, dances the work.

For a preview of “Caught,” watch this video.

Also on the program: “Brothers,” “Swing Shift,” “The Envelope,” and “Nascimento Novo,” a tribute to Brazilian composer Milton Nascimento.

Tcikets, $38/adult and $22/student and children, are available at www.telluridepalm.com or by calling 970.369.5669.