Either interpretation of the story produces an unsettling reaction. The role of Bertha was originated by Bettie de Jong, now the company s rehearsal director. A tall, commanding presence, she brought an edge to the part thanks to her size. Kristin Egtvedt, who took the role at this performance, does not have the advantage of de Jong's height, but she had a suitably intense demeanor. The rest of the excellent cast were Heather Berest as the lively girl, Annmaria Mazzini as the young woman and Orion Duckstein as the young man.
Profiles is an odd dance for two couples.
As he does in Cascade , created twenty years later, Taylor has the dancers move like Egyptian friezes. From stiff movements to cartoon-like jumps, it was difficult to discern what Taylor had in mind. The sound of swarming bees gave way to a general buzzing in the hive. The dancers performed with great precision and unity. Closing the program was another piece of high energy, Syzygy, which is, according to the program, the nearly straight line configuration of three or more celestial bodies in a gravitational system.