DANCE REVIEWS : AVAZ AT DOWNEY

Avaz International Dance Theatre introduced a striking Thracian suite choreographed by artistic director Anthony Shay in a program of largely familiar repertory Saturday at the Downey Theatre.

The new work opened with 12 women, costumed in earth tones offset by white, flower-embroidered aprons, filling the stage with running skips and hops. They grouped into fluid, circular patterns, broke into line formations and turned in place, their arms floating, their hands circling in movements that reflect the Oriental influence of that area.

The line dance for six men that followed began with lolling head movements and swaying bodies before it became a foot-stomping, high-kicking showpiece that finished with the dancers advancing on their knees toward the audience.

The suite concluded with a musical round sung brightly by eight unaccompanied women.

Of the remaining, generous survey of dances from the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, arguably the most exciting was the Croatian “Lindjo” (choreographed by Mario Casillas), a kind of rural workout to detect women who have tuberculosis.

All evening, the lavishly costumed dancers performed with their usual authority, and the Avaz singers and instrumentalists contributed lively musicianship.