Modern dance meets modern tech

The lights dim as all eyes are drawn to the center stage, where dancer Miguel Quinones' athletic form is illuminated in a pool of light. Another circle appears as the first vanishes, and Quinones moves fluidly from circle to circle amid the sounds of jagged electronic ambiance. Suddenly, he leaps deftly in the air. At that moment, bright, stroboscopic flashes create the illusion that Quinones, repositioning himself in each dark pause, never touches the ground, appearing to glide seamlessly through the air. A stunned crowd bursts into shrieks and applause. This breath-taking spectacle — itself worth the ticket price — is David Parsons' signature piece, "Caught." Like most of Parsons' other work, it blends convention and innovation, marrying the oldest art of dance to the newest special effects. 

"Caught" is but the opening act to Parsons' latest piece, "Remember Me," an ambitious reimagining of classic opera and dance through the lens of modern rock. Lead vocalists Tyley Ross and AnnMarie Milazzo of the Grammy-nominated East Village Opera Company imbue the most familiar moments of classic opera with rock's wild, energetic flair, a nearly sacrilegious combination that makes for a fresh take on timeless works such as "Carmen" and "La Bohème." This sets the stage for the classic story of a love triangle between a woman (Abby Silva) and two jealous brothers (Quinones and Zac Hammer). Silva, who plays Marie, is the quintessential tragic lover. Every inch of her lithe form seduces the audience with artful bends and curves. But all 14 of Parson's dancers shine vibrantly, performing his sleek choreography with natural passion, free energy, talent and athleticism.

The creative lighting and set design also produce memorable moments. In one scene, Marie and one of her lovers are entangled underneath a long white sheet. They dance, moving under, through and over the sheet as it contorts across the stage. In other scenes, boxed silhouettes give the impression of a cage as the imprisoned Marie laments her sad fate. Most noticeable, however, is the backdrop of abstract visual projections that flickers and loops behind the dancers' movements throughout the production. In some scenes, these projections add a modern color to the performance; at other times, they degrade the performance, looking a bit too much like a campy Windows screensaver.

In general, "Remember Me" walks — or rather, dances — that fine line, providing musical accessibility and technical innovation at the expense of seeming overdone and less refined than other modern dance productions. Still, "Caught" and "Remember Me," entertaining spectacles though they may be, show above all that there is no shortage of creative minds and gifted bodies willing to experiment and push the limits of what a dance performance can be in the digital age.

Parsons Dance runs at the Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Ave.) through Feb. 21. Tickets ($10-59) can be purchased at telecharge.com or by calling 212.242.0800.

Josh Cabrido is a staff writer.