Mars Powers, Jasper Arrigo, and Lauren Theriault in Awaken at Orlando Fringe Credit: Courtesy Photo
The quantity and quality of contemporary dance companies participating in Orlando Fringe has risen and fallen over the years, so it’s gratifying to see director Cindy Heen’s Emergence Dance return to the Festival with Awaken, a polished and passionate piece of movement theater that lives up to the promise of their acclaimed Dream in 2024.
Following a tragic inciting incident that’s expressed through slow-motion weight-sharing, the lead character (Jasper Arrigo) goes on a hero’s journey through the five stages of grief, guided by a poetry-reciting Ringleader (Mars Powers) though dance-based vignettes incorporating elements of modern, ballet and even acrobatics.
The choreography by Heen and her team evolves from mechanical pedestrian movement to free-flowing organic forms, as Arrigo abandons anger and denial for acceptance and awareness. Like their last show, the large ensemble has a couple corps members who aren’t yet on their castmates’ level, but Arrigo and Powers remain the main reasons to see this troupe; Arrigo is exceptionally expressive for such a strong athlete, while Powers has a fascinating feline physicality that somehow makes his Lewis Carroll-like nonsense verses seem insightful.
Throw in boldly colorful lighting, Sonja Rosignol’s entrancingly androgynous costumes, and a carefully curated soundtrack spanning Hidden Citizens to Billie Eilish, and Awaken is easily a must-see pick for dance fans at this year’s Orlando Fringe.
Emergence Dance (Orlando, FL)
Pink Venue, Lowndes Shakespeare Center
60 minutes; all ages
Tickets: $15
Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky | Or sign up for our RSS Feed
Related Stories
Interactive ‘With What We Have Left’ turns communication into a game, a challenge, and ultimately a shared act of trust
Three tight musical sets paying tribute to powerhouse pop divas
Funny, spooky and serious when it needs to be — a great pick for Fringers who need a little rush of adrenaline
The diversity of human sexuality pales in comparison to the kinky hijinks found throughout the animal world
Shrek meets Shakespeare: surprisingly smart and sharply performed, with tight comic timing
This article appears in Orlando Fringe 2026.
Related