Proto

Repertory

Proto
Video Clips

Premiere: Nalle Plastics Bldg., Austin, TX / November 1996 / 70 minutes / Eight Dancers / Ten Actors as Workers / Original Music Sections by Sergio Samayoa / Choreography by Andrea Ariel / Lighting Design by Jason Amato / Set Design by Ann Marie Gordon / Barrel Creation and Rigging by Jerry Reed / Costume Design by Amanda Cruz, Jennifer Smith, Roxanna Ramseur. / Photography by Minh Carrico.

Dance performed by: Andrea Ariel, Ellen Bartel, Karen Camelet, Vanessa Muncrief, Melissa O'Dell, Tracey White, Tammy Loftis, Nancy Gwinnell Hurd, Kym Owens. Workers Performed by Sage Ansell, Hayden Bird, Lance Harris, Kristina Karger-Torres, Chris Krager, Carol Lewis, Marty McDowell, Ricky Pestana, David Robinson, Lucia Rodriguez and special appearance by Ann Marie Gordon.

Premiering in1996 was Proto , a surrealistic fairy-tale set in a vacant warehouse that was transformed into a theater and involved dancing on 20 foot ropes with 50 gallon metal barrels suspended from them. A Dadaistic inspiration, Proto delves into darkness and desperation brought on by the outer world. Portrayed by colorful characters in a circus-like world, the work moves from silly to sharp-edged, raw to aggressive, machine-like to topsy-turvy,

"This piece worked like a well-meshed machine. The swift, sleek lines created by each dancer and the group's symmetrical movement meshed into a clean performance."

"The Ariel troupe kept us enthralled with physically sensuous dancing...."

Tiko Lieou, The Texas Triangle

"Ariel Dance Theatre exhibits fine technique...with strong production values and polished performances"

Jaime Smith, Austin American-Statesman

"An engaging mixture of movement and performance art."
Carolyn Kelly, Austin American-Statesman