Cid Pearlman and her dancers have built a challenging evening of works in collaboration with former Kronos Quartet composer/cellist Joan Jeanrenaud and the poet/dramatist Denise Leto. On September 21 & 22 at San Francisco's Joe Goode Annex Cid Pearlman Performance offered three compositions in "The All Joan Show" that were all reconstructions from past performances, albeit this time with different performers.

The duet “Strange Toys” (2004) was performed by dancers Collette Kollewe Tabone and Lyndia McGauhey. Both women were elegant dancers and worked together to create a comfortable collage of movement that included much contact, balance, locomotion and falls. Jeanrenaud’s music carried them through it with easy coordination.

The major work of the evening was “Your Body is Not a Shark” (2013). Noting that each of the collaborators is disabled, Pearlman’s says: “Shark calls into question conventional notions of virtuosic embodiment in a world that discounts difference.”

The seven dancers assume various groupings, supporting, extending and playing with skills unique to each. One of the group was clearly pregnant and she was well supported.

“Your Body is Not a Shark” was a delightful exploration of physical shapes and skills.

“Small Variations” (2006) is an exploration of physical contact among four dancers; Lisa Brenner, Julia Daniel, Collette Kollewe Tabone and Lyndia McGauhey. McGauhey, who had a solo variation, has a fluency that is most attractive. The dynamics of contact, support, balance and intimacy in this work demanded slow tempi and time for transitions while shorter sections sped things up. It was an extensive experience in dance skills and relationships.

Besides the four listed above the other dancers were: Julia Daniel, David King, Cynthia Strauss and Katie Trigg. With them and her collaborators, Pearlman has reconstructed three fascinating studies.

Damara Vita Ganley, left, and Molly Katzman in "Your Body is Not a Shark." Photo © & courtesy of Beau Saunders

Molly Katzman, left, and Damara Vita Ganley in "Your Body is Not a Shark." Photo © & courtesy of Beau Saunders

Dancers in "small variations" Photo © & courtesy of Lilian Wu

Dancers in "small variations" Photo © & courtesy of Lilian Wu