Quotes From the Press

 

Confined

"Berry and her four dancers made up a rainbow coalition of women. . .
One story, of growing up, relied on Roumain’s marvelous music for its pathos. The dancers emerged
each tethered to a rope made of old clothes and were dragged across the stage as if in chains.
The scramble of bodies and chains of rags spoke to history, a broad canvas of mothers, grandmothers
and the confinement of poverty. The violin first accompanied softly, gently urging on the
dancers. When the music broke into frenetic energy, the dancers and their rag chains became
a mass of color and movement, a huge rag ball of anger and longing.
Gail Scott White's video poured images behind the action on stage as a second accompaniment.
A rain of purses and shoes and a later cascade of paper dropping down the screen framed
linked stories. The best use of the video was in its generous showcasing of the individuality
the dancers, in long vertical visuals. While the film offered their single faces and torsos,
the five dancers onstage formed one mass of bodies. They were slung together and hauled or
dragged by one dancer in the center in another evocation of family, with its confinement of
obligation and its links of love and meaning" (Martha Sherman. Danceview Times, 2010).

"The dancers Sara Roer, Nicole McClam, Yuko Mitsuishi, Milvia Pacheco,
and Berry each offered powerful physical portrayals of disconnection and oppression
– Pacheco’s attempt to move forward while slowly being borne down upon by the
other women who wrap around her shoulders, stomach, and legs was a
clear expression of idea in movement. Berry’s other collaborators composer
Daniel Bernard Roumain and new media artist Gail Scott White provided
additional layers to the ambitious work."
(Maura Donahue. Culturebot. September 22nd, 2010).

More Dancers to Watch Out For
"Skin . . . is the name of a dance by choreographer Emily Berry who joins Pascha
Barnwell-Conway in this memorable duet about race relations. Recently presented at Dixon Place
in a program curated by Marcia Monroe, Skin boasted intelligent and strong performances by
these women–one white, one black–who literally grappled with each other while confronting
urgent questions of racial identity and common humanity. Watch for future
work by Emily Berry and her Beyond Third Wave dance troupe."
©2006, Eva Yaa Asantewaa, Sept. 2006
http://home.mindspring.com/~magickal1/

“Area newcomer Emily Berry used lots of fresh and tasty ingredients for the
Washington debut of her company…”
Pamela Squires – The Washington Post- 2003

“Berry’s works are thought based. That’s their beauty.”
Pamela Squires – The Washington Post - 2003

“Berry seems a live wire who gets things going”.
Pamela Squires – The Washington Post - 2003

“Womens’ vulnerability drove ‘Wars’ Victims’, a violent but engaging solo
choreographed and performed by Emily Berry.”
Clare Croft – The Washington Post - 2003

The collaborations produced “wonderfully crafted video footage and original soundtracks”.
Pamela Squires – The Washington Post – 2003

“MemeWraith was very provocative. . . elegant. . . technically impressive. . . aesthetically astounding!”
- a visitor to the art gallery where “MemeWraith” was first presented – 2002