Dance Review: Lei Lines by Maria Roca
Maria Roca performs Lei Lines at the PLVTFORM showcase event in London - March 2023
It is believed by some that ley lines connect historic structures with hidden power, and one can tap into this energy network as our pagan ancestors did, tuning in with the earth along these magical bands. Initially popularized by English rambler Alfred Watkins nearly a century ago, the idea of ley lines has sparked the imagination of many who traverse the English countryside. Originally from Spain, dancer/choreographer Maria Roca explored the body’s connection with lines and power in a contemporary hip hop solo performed at the PLVTFORM showcase event in London in March 2023.
Roca began hunched over, hands resting on thighs, with a large black band binding her lower legs together. Dressed in a black tank top, baggy beige pants and tennis shoes, she was restricted by the band, which she pulled at repeatedly before tumbling to the ground and pushing herself up, still rooted to the floor. Her movement vocabulary was a deft combination of tutting gestures resembling spellcasting, hip hop popping and waving movements, and a fluid contemporary sensibility in the supple upper body undulations. Her phrasing interspersed a slow-motion wringing torso with punchy arm sequences, and all of it was strongly connected to the music.
Freeing herself from the band with gestural movements and zig zag direction changes while the music solidified into a solid beat, her knees celebrated with a wild flapping before revisiting the spellcasting gestural phrase, this time full-bodied and boisterous. As in many endeavors, there was yet another limitation binding her — this time at the wrists. This struggle hit a bit differently, instead showcasing the connectedness necessary for the ingenious gesture-making as her hands attempted to fly free. Although I would have liked to see more attention paid to ridding herself of the first band, the second binding ended with great satisfaction and a celebratory rippling movement through her outstretched arms. Once she rid herself of the bands (or lines) holding her back, she found her power to fly, performing several high-octane and full-bodied acrobatic movements seen in break dance (and in ballet, for that matter) as she gave herself over to three-dimensional space and the freedom it affords to those who fling themselves headlong into the universe.
Roca’s performance seamlessly and skillfully wove together contemporary dance and hip hop vocabularies so that one never forgot she belonged fully to both techniques. And although I do love watching a talented dancer perform hip hop to see interesting movement, it is a balm to the soul to see a talented technician also tackle a thematic issue with both strength and delicacy. It will be very interesting to see where this emerging choreographer goes from here — watch this space.
Check out the Human Kinetics publication Dance Appreciation, by Dawn Davis Loring and co-authored by Julie L. Pentz, also available from Amazonand other booksellers, and go see what dancer shares your birthday at the Today in Dance project: www.dawndavisloring.com/todayindance.
You can also tune in to the Today in Dance podcast, available from Apple podcasts.
