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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Mail Tribune 100, Feb. 9, 1916 ... Oregon and Alaska lift suspension of troubled insurance carrier Moda ... Oregon refuge occupier releases videos mocking FBI ... Mail Tribune 100, Feb. 9, 1916 ... Oregon and Alaska lift suspension of troubled insurance carrier Moda ... Oregon refuge occupier releases videos mocking FBI ... DANCE Dancing People Company presents 'Salon Series' Comment By Courtney Coughlin for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Courtney Coughlin for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 7, 2015 at 9:00 AM By Courtney Coughlin for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 7, 2015 at 9:00 AM » Social News It is a privilege to watch dancers in their own studio. Remove the shade of mystery, the burning lights and heavy curtains. Here at home, the dancers are not held at a distance on the pedestal of a stage; the division between audience and performers comes down to a line of blue tape on the floor. The dancers breathe heavily, they sweat, and this is visible instead of hidden. Here the magic of live performance is not diminished, but rather amplified. Dancing People Company offers such an intimate viewing experience in its “Salon Series.” The modern dance troupe, directed by Robin Stiehm, will present "Salon Series: Experiments in Dance" at 8 p.m. Friday through Monday, May 8-11, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 10, at Oak Street Dance Studio, 310 Oak St., Ashland. The program includes three distinct pieces choreographed by Stiehm — "Sounding Steps," "Gritty Interval" and "Falling From the Horizon" — and performed by dancers Erin Drummond, Brianna Rae Johnson, Megan Duling and Doug Hooker. The dancers will be accompanied by violinist Morgan O'Shaughnessy. Tickets cost $17 for the evening shows and can be purchased online at dancingpeople.com or at Music Coop, 268 E. Main St. Admission to the Sunday matinee is pay-what-you-want. Call 541-488-9683 for information. Stiehm will host a dialogue with the audience after each show because she wants to ensure that her audiences feel they understand the work. For people who have been frustrated by past experiences with dance performance, “Salon Series” may be a welcome antidote. When Stiehm took Dancing People Company on its first tour almost 20 years ago, “Sounding Steps” was its signature piece performed across the world. Then, young Stiehm both choreographed and performed in this piece, and now she has reset it in this intimate venue with the addition of live accompaniment. Violinist O’Shaughnessy joins Dancing People Company for this sometimes tender and sometimes mechanical dance. The nuanced maturity of company member Drummond and the youthful power of apprentice Miyk Moore express this duality beautifully. The piece follows no narrative; it is an expression of and reflection upon Bach’s virtuosic "Chaconne." While the musician’s bow may be a wizard’s wand for all the magic he stirs up, the sound of the dancers’ feet as they turn and jump and fall within inches of the audience makes this a uniquely vibrant performance. In contrast, "Gritty Interval" is a newer creation that takes inspiration from survivors of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck Fukushima, Japan. It is a hopeful piece about a timely truth: Even after disaster, time passes and communities rebuild. Throughout the choreography by Stiehm, dancers climb upon each other and crumble, like a chaotic force of natural disaster. They reach for one another and sometimes for someone who isn’t there. New company member Hooker keenly intuits shifting weight as he lifts and is lifted, landing right where he belongs with Stiehm’s contact-driven choreographic style. "Falling From the Horizon" is a new piece choreographed for the current dancers. Dancing People Company contends with a shifting roster of members, and the impending departure of Drummond coincides with the introduction of Hooker and Duling. It’s no wonder the careening turns and frenetic pace in the early parts of the piece have a dizzying effect. A tailored fit for these four bodies, the movement features long lines, crushed and compromised by the driving rhythms of the piece until they become round, whole and joyful once again. By Courtney Coughlin for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Courtney Coughlin for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 7, 2015 at 9:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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