The Sonia Plumb Dance Company (SPDC) recently raised the curtains at the Theater of the Performing Arts auditorium in Hartford to perform “Penelope”™s Odyssey,” an anticipated, in-person production that was postponed since last October due to the pandemic. With the perseverance of SPDC Founder and Artistic Director Sonia Plumb and the support of dance aficionados across the state, the contemporary dance company portrayed the powerful story of survival in today”™s challenged world.
“Surely, the performing arts sector has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, but during this time of isolation, we never lost sight of our underlying mission to connect humanity through dance,” said Plumb, who choreographed the entire production. “Our organization has always reached beyond the arts community with a diverse repertoire that often reflects upon larger societal issues and this performance was no different.”
“Penelope”™s Odyssey” tells the story of Penelope and the women in the classic epic poem “The Odyssey” by Homer in which in this contemporary interpretation the dancers focus on gender roles and societal norms as seen through the lens of time by weaving in topics of romance, betrayal, single motherhood, arranged marriage, war and perseverance. Simply stated, it”™s a story of a woman taking control of her life in a man”™s world, explained Plumb.
Since 1990, Sonia Plumb Dance Company has been exciting audiences with contemporary modern dance performances that boast stunning visuals, vivid choreography and compelling storytelling. Founded and led by lifelong dancer Plumb, SPDC offers dance instruction classes, professional apprenticeships, arts integration programs and community outreach that serves more than 8,000 constituents throughout the Northeast.
