Visual Flair Reaches Across ‘Spectrum’

They were dancing in the aisles on Saturday at the Ivar Theatre, the erstwhile strip joint that has recently been home to “Spectrum: Dance in L.A.” At least the lusty Swing Brazil Dance Company shimmied up the aisles during their party-like finale, “Axe Sambando!”Now in its 10th outing, this “Spectrum’s” operative words were hair, flair and bare--skin, that is, as 17 choreographers showcased their works, helping take up the slack resulting from Dance Kaleidoscope’s downsizing.

Solos proved particularly fertile, with a trio of shining performances. Jamal Story gave awesome life to “Endangered Species,” Robert Gilliam’s take on a doomed bird, as a nearly naked Story dazzled with feral leaps and thrilling turns. The incomparable Lisa K. Lock, in her reworked “Deviation,” made inspired use of platform shoes in balancing feats executed while lying prone on a chair.

Also reworked, and still mind-blowing: Banafsheh Sayyad’s trance dance, “Cycle of Fire.” Accompanied by Pejman Hadadi’s live percussion, Sayyad whirled as if possessed.

The night was also a fount of estrogen power. Sarah Bashir showed promise with her fusion flamenco work, “Contra La Obscuridad,” a female octet displaying deft line formations and unison stamping. Benita Bike’s impressive work in progress, “A Few American Songs,” saw four women let loose in joyful, knee-slapping jags to a bevy of banjo-plucked tunes. Rei Aoo’s skillful “The Horsemen in Wilderness” was drenched in energetic fervor.

More, unfortunately, was less in Adam Parson’s “Primitive,” as eight women plodded through a host of repetitive jazz kicks. Ditto for Bubba Carr’s “Trip With Salvador Nijinsky,” as 11 dancers flailed about robotically.

Raves and discos punctuated two works: “Communication Without Manipulation” highlighted a limber Steve Kincade in Chris Payne Dupre’s sadomasochistic excursion; and Omhmar N. Griffin’s rollicking “That 70’s Story” was a wiggy hommage to that era. Nalani Wilson’s lively “Bring It!” proved a schizoid-like hip hop-versus-jazz journey.

Completing the bill: Deborah Brockus’ ambitious “Phoenix”; Cindy Short’s clever “Goin’ Out West”; Denise Leitner’ fiery “Going Home”; Armin Moradian’s hilarious “Tap Dance”; and the sole ballet entry, John Castagna’s whimsical “Bianca’s Dilemma.”