March 6, 2015
“In ‘Platform 2015,’ the Beauty of Ragged Edges at Danspace Project”
by Deborah Jowitt
“The four artists involved in the series’ second performance, at Danspace Project in St. Mark’s Church, might not have heeded such strictures anyway. Although Rashaun Mitchell was paired with Sara Mearns, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, andJodi Melnick was brought together with Sterling Hyltin, another City Ballet principal, all four collaborated on what they aptly titled “Starts and Fits, No Middles No Ends: Eight.
All this happens without musical accompaniment, until close to the end, when the performers appear in somewhat shinier costumes by the designer Reid Bartelme. Now Ms. Mearns dances in all her glory, whether she’s hurling a gorgeous leg around to pull herself off balance, or spinning toward a pillar and stopping her momentum in a deep arabesque penché. In easygoing counterpoint, Ms. Melnick and Mr. Mitchell entwine imaginatively on the floor.”