Meh-Tropolis Meows Its Way Into Del Rey

At a recent dance rehearsal, the curious scene inside the Del Rey Theatre looks more like a trip down memory lane than a dance performance. As I walk in on a rehearsal, I see a wide-eyed main character weave about a playground of bodies, joining hands with and embracing human figures.

Like viewing a cinematic montage sequence, the troupe of dancers glides across the rehearsal space with ease and I am transfixed by such delicate stage activity made up of nothing more than calming music and nine bodies. The main ballerina then violently releases these subjects, as if she is trying to physically hold on to a memory that should no longer be revisited.

But after being drifted into a world of swaying bodies, graceful poses and ethereal movements, I come to the realization that this troupe of barefoot beings have transported me to an emotional memory that feels as magical as it does real. Snapping back to reality, the show's petite artistic director Sarah Harkness, who is dressed in khaki green Capri pants and rainbow-striped ankle socks, calls to the slew of attentive dancers, "OK, let's start at the beginning."

Such is the magic of Meh-Tropolis.

What started as an inside joke has become a successful dance company that is entering its fifth season. Harkness, artistic director and founder of the Meh-Tropolis company, gave birth to the organization through her senior thesis performed at the student dance concert in 2001.?

But what does "Meh" really mean?

"It's an old family joke. My brother's old cat who is kind of crazy meows like that, 'meh.' But it also became an expression with all of us. It just became the answer when you didn't have the words," said Harkness.

Harkness also recalls her conversation with her mentor and associate professor of theatre Dr. Ron Marasco. "He thought [the thesis] really embodie[d] the idea of a city, and all these people bustling in and out -- sometimes running into each other, sometimes coming apart -- all towards this common goal or getting through their path…like a metropolis," said Harkness.

"It's turned into a city where anything and everything is possible because 'Meh' stands for anything. It's a safe haven for dancers where they can basically explore anything that their creative instincts are going to take them into. It's also very important to me that it's a professional and nurturing setting because that's what I was given here at LMU," said Harkness.

And so the Del Rey Theatre has foregone this season's colorful backdrops, wild costumes and comedic lines to lend their precious space to Meh-Tropolis's 2nd Annual Fundraiser and Silent Auction. The event is meant to raise money and awareness for the National Mulitple Sclerosis Society's MS Challenge, a two-to-three day walk being held in nine different locations throughout the country to raise money for an MS cure. All proceeds go to the Meh-Tropolis show in June titled "Destination: Meh-Tropolis," and to the dance company's stage manager Karin Chamberlain, who was diagnosed with the disease.

After asking a few of the company's dancers about Chamberlain's role in Meh-Tropolis, the dancers literally explode with appreciation.

"Oh my God, she does everything," said principal dancer Claire Hanson.

"She's our stage manager, she does all the lighting, she gets everything ready for us so we can have this space ready for us," said Tony Eisenhower, principal dancer.

Added Harkness, "This [fundraiser] is our way of bringing awareness, not only to the general cause of the national MS society, but also to the person who she is…. This is our way of celebrating her in a way that also helps thousands of Americans that are also with this disease."

And what better way to celebrate than through dance?

Harkness stressed that she chooses dancers based on talent and ambition, and not merely for dance skills. "Not everyone has to be a typical dancer-type look -- short, skinny, tall, large -- there's room for growth in every dancer. I like giving dancers the chance to search their potential within different styles," she said.

According to other members of the dance group, the members of Meh-Tropolis are more like a family than a company.

"Learning with each other and making wonderful pieces of work is the best part of being in this company. I was not a very strong dancer when I first started but I feel so much more confident with the people around me, they really help and push you to do the best you can," said Eisenhower.

Harkness says that one of the best things about Meh-Tropolis is "having 25 talented dancers to create with at my disposal. If I didn't have this creative outlet," she laughed, "I don't know what I would do with myself. I definitely feel that this is what I am meant to do in my life. Simply having these dancers and this arena and support to create in is something special."

Meh-Tropolis's 2nd Annual Fundraiser and Silent Auction promises a mélange of old and new dance numbers, as well as some sneak previews for the company's June show.

Performances will take place in Del Rey Theatre, from April 26-29 at 8 p.m. with a matinee show at 2 p.m. on April 29. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling the Meh-Tropolis box office and information line at (310) 838-2236. For more info, go to www.mehtropolis.com.