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La Frontera
Interview (view the article)
February 2007
LA Magazine
Top Ten (view the article)
October 2005
"The choreographer Paula
Present has a gift for creating memorable body sculpture (particularly
with groups) and for shaping a sophisticated, contemporary movement
vocabulary into fine-grained meditations on important current
issues...her award-winning, mostly female PTERO Dance Theatre provides
a satisfying look at her artistry... Present's "In the Forest" artfully
develops a conflict between
sensual needs and religious repression...the process of transforming
the news of the day into thoughtful, committed dancing represents the
kind of positive action that's needed on the widest possible scale
right now...it's heartening to find a constellation of skillful Los
Angeles artists making work that's something more than their
oh-so-sensitive souls, their last love affair, their fabulous
technique, their devastating sex appeal or their beautiful feet."
- LA
Times, July 2007
"'Holding Up the Sky,' with
an all female cast. Strongly demonstrates
the idea that some themes, such as peace, are universal. Responding to
violence against women, the devastation of war and other issues of the
day, 'Holding Up the Sky' offers a strongly crafted hour of dance
theater...with artful dance sequences choreographed by Paula
Present...Evan A Bartoletti's multi level set helps separate such
large-scale passages, but Present's choreography always makes its
purpose unmistakable...a mimed and danced antiwar conference in a semi
circle of chairs displays the specificity of Present' talent to the
utmost, while the power of the ensemble reaches maximum impact in her
percussive war quintet."
— LA Times, April 2003
"Symbolism in dance
can often get lost in the very movements created to express it.
Ptero Dance Theatre's newest performance, including "The
Frame of Mind" with two other pieces, instead resonates its statements
with graceful precision...Present, who has received praise for both her
choreography and her own dance abilities, draws from myriad
sources
of her own and observed experience to craft her work. Hers is
an intelligent approach, one not content with aesthetics alone..."The
Frame of Mind," Present's imagery reflects - and questions - the mind
as well as society. While her use of props remains limited,
blindfolds, sticks, and a freestanding doorframe aptly conveys her
message...The focal point, a powerful duet in the shifting doorframe,
speaks of the battle for open thinking...Present delievers fully on her
mission: to make a bold
statement on society and ourselves...Indeed each movement not only had
a
purpose in itself - it managed to remain unpredictable...."Frame of
Mind" surprises you at times. Especially if you let yourself get lost
in it."
— LAstheplace.com,
July 2007
"In fact, Helios has proved a
seedbed of local talent. Dancer-choreographer Paula Present is another
former member who has gone on to success with her troupe, Ptero Dance
Theatre."
— LA Times, Oct 2008
""A real treat".
That's the way I'm going to describe last night's experience
with the Ptero Dance Company...all three (dance pieces) are danced
beautifully by a shimmeringly talented dance company...two dancers are
brilliant working in and around a doorframe...contain both wonderful
solo work and equally pleasing emsemble work...Paula Present, whose
choreographic voice is a strong one. As I said up top, the
whole
evening was a treat for me. The Ptero Dance Theatre Company
presents jeweled visions here and I thank them for a glorious
evening...put Ptero on your calendar immediately."
— Reviewplays.com, July 2007
"Powerful dancing
proliferated. Sarandon Cassidy and Rogelio Lopez G.
agonized effectively in Paula Present's "Orpheus and Eurydice" dance
drama for Ptero Dance Theatre."
— LA Times, June 2006
"Dancer-Choreographer Paula
Present, artistic director of locally based
Ptero Dance Theatre, has something to say."
— LA Times, October 2005
"...stellar dancing."
— LA Times, October 2005
"In her 2004 duet, "Scrape,"
Present plumbed the territory of grief...As if pushing pain away with
her hands, Present would then hunch over, head to knees, before
offering a keening, chest-beating motif. Soon joined by Shannon Harris,
recruited to assuage hurt, the duo swayed spoonstyle, their crossed
legs and arms becoming a cipher for raw emotions."
— LA Times, October 2005
"The same feeling of unity in
crisis dominated Paula Present's intense
septet 'Breath Among Ruins,' with its full-out body lashing, moments of
private anguish and depictions of women being battered by unseen forces
but always moving forward."
— LA Times, October 2003
"Spectrum Dance #17 proved
that this town's dance scene sparkles with
choreographic bling bling. Solos of various stripes were particularly
captivating... a goddess-like Paula Present offered her work in
progress "The Unfolding," punctuated by outstretched arms and languid
backbends."
— LA Times, November 2003
"Spectrum No. 18 also boasted
two accomplished, emotional solos: ...and
Paula Present's fresh, endearing coming of age study, "Diamond Dance"."
— LA Times, February 2004
"This piece (OmPaHdEnLeIsAs)
is imaginatively choreographed with
meaningful gesture and interesting lifts...In Scrape, Present
who is a wonder of movement, musicality, and passion-suffers a
nearly unbearable misery until set on a new path by the lithe Shannon
Harris. Where the Body End reflects our inner and outer beauties,
danced by Sarandon Cassidy, Nicole LaCour, and Harris. Woman in There
Somewhere again reflects an unfolding of the human body and soul,
danced by the technically and dramatically powerful trio of Chelsea
Gilbert, Present, and (Lillian) Bitkoff...Present reflects youthful,
dreamy optimism again beautifully rendered- in 'Girl, You'll
Be a Woman Soon'."
— Backstage West, August 2004
"In 'Beloved, be loved,'
Paula Present showed this relationship at it's
most life affirming. Dancing lyrically around and over a boom box, she
reminded everyone of how recorded music can inspire a sense of
connection even when we are most alone. "We will keep each other safe
from harm," the lyrics promised, and Present responded with utter
devotion."
— LA Times, January 2002
"The melding of East and West
has been tried innumerable times in
dance, but perhaps because of world events and more likely because of
the talents involved, the mix is aesthetic and heartwarming in this
celebration of international femininity and sisterhood. Conceivers and
choreographers Madeline Leavitt and Paula Present combine mainly
"modern" dance and Bharata Natyam - South Indian classical dance - for
an evening of visual beauty and sweet storytelling."
— Backstage West, April 2003
"PTERO Dance Theatre proves
there's indeed lots new under the sun...The
new PTERO company, under young, but already admirably credentialed
artistic director/choreographer Paula Present delivers to us, though
dance, the universal truth that reaching for your "LIGHT" is worth
risking burned fingers or toes presenting an inventive
stirring dance Recital...gracefully heart-based freeform creative
movement, punctuated by staccato bursts of a more dance-theatre
nature...deeply moving and frequently captivating...rather enchantingly
explores many aspects of life, love, personal dreams, and endless
search for meaning and freedom. ...Diamond Dances shows a welcome, more
carefree, fun-loving whimsical view of life (thank goodness life isn't
all struggle). With minimal creative lulls - always a danger in an
evening packed with many feelings to convey - the production proved a
pleasing experience, leaving us expecting to see more of Ms Present and
PTERO in the future."
— Easy Reader, August 2004
"Contemporary dance theatre
burns brightly in Paula Present's 'Candle
in the Sun.' This five sequence show presents different motifs that
move each piece through the show's central theme of how darkness and
light work together to convey a sense of finding oneself through
wisdom, appreciation and guidance. For the most part the show takes on
different nuances of womanhood, but it also suggests a more universal
reflection of individuality in a fluid and changing world. Overall, the
dance is inspiring and intriguing, and combines both contemporary dance
and multimedia for thought provoking and entertaining evening. The
dance's eclectic mix of music- from pop to classical-is the driving
force behind the theatrical dance narratives, and guides its dancers
through consistent movements that are both graceful and
provocative...At one point Ophelia and Hamlet compete against each
other in a theatrical boxing match, which is both interesting and
original. The three dance sequences that follow definitely hold merit
by conveying a sense of womanhood, which reaches out to the mind, body,
and soul...You don't have to be a dance theater aficionado to
appreciate the representations of theater, art, and life that this show
has to offer."
— KXLU Radio-Center Stage, August 2004
"The group is under strong,
artistic direction of Paula Present, a
uniquely talented choreographer, as well as dancer...a must see
production with the feel of more, more, more, evident with exceptional
performers"
— LASplash.com, August 2004
"Believe it or not, Paula
Present's evening of dance at the Ivy
Substation in Culver City is worth missing the Olympics over...Indeed,
Present's choreographic strength lay in narrative dances based on
literary sources...In OmPaHdEnLeIsAs, Present offers superbly crafted
work with fully integrated theatrical elements...A tale of deliverance,
the profoundly emotional 'Scrape' begins with only Present onstage at
the moment of descent into darkness. Radiating from her center, Present
stokes the fire in her belly in preparation...The finale, Diamond
Dances, is pure showstopper bliss..."
— Socal.com, August 2004
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