By John Lyle Belden

Time again to look both back and forward at the magnificent works of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre.

In mid-May, we had the last of the 2025-26 season’s “Mélange” series. Vocalist Angela Manlove presented a program of Broadway hits around the theme of “Finding Your Voice.” Aside from songs she has performed on stage, from “Aida,” “The Bodyguard,” and “Ragtime,” she indulged in a bit of “Chicago,” “Wicked,” and “The Little Mermaid” (taking a moment to praise Disney for showing her daughter an Ariel that looks like her), along with heartfelt numbers from “Waitress,” “Songs for a New World,” and “The Notebook.”

Throughout all this, GHDT company dancer Olivia Payton wrote out the songs’ emotions in movement – working the whole area energetically, then coming closer for intimate moments with Manlove. Meanwhile, impressionist painter Debbie Slack worked. During the performance we saw, the painting imagined the performance space of The Florence as a field of flowers, with a Peyton’s figure tracing a graceful line. Bidding was fierce for the finished work (sold to benefit GHDT programs).

We cannot recommend this unique performance series enough. Watch for upcoming Mélange dates at gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.

In the meantime, very shortly there will be one of Gregory Glade Hancock’s excellent productions of visual storytelling, the story of “Antony and Cleopatra,” inspired by the Shakespeare play based on historical figures during the rise of the Roman Empire. For this show, the story – with choreography and costumes by Hancock, music by Corey Gabel – takes place in a modern Egyptian-themed club where rival performers stir up the drama.

GHDT last performed this program in June of 2022. I noted then that as the concept played with setting and gender, the result was a compelling, fascinating story of forbidden desire and love, rash actions and tragic consequences. Thomas Mason and Abigail Lessaris, as well as Payton, will likely reprise their roles as part of a full cast of company dancers and students.

This will conclude the company’s 2025-26 season. Performances are one weekend only, Friday and Saturday, June 5-6, at The Tarkington in the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Carmel. Get tickets at the GHDT website or thecenterpresents.org.