FWL PRESS
LA Dance Chronicle Review - HeGEMony
By Anthony Marciona | July 5th 2023
HeGEMony is the newest work by choreographer and Artistic Director of Freaks With Lines Susan Vishmid. It was a short ten-minute three-act ballet that appeared to present the power struggle between the lead dancers, Owen Bakula (Opal) and Aramis Hermes Daley (Jeweler/Diamond). Bakula, a talented non-binary ballerina, was a standout displaying wonderful technique, extensions, and clearly accomplished ballet training. Daley presented a unique, almost comical take on the male lead ballerino by focusing on his hands and looking lost, while others tried to get his attention to continue dancing. Primarily performing on pointe, each of the other dancers had moments to show off their abilities.
​
Vishmid’s choreography lent itself to traditional ballet movement while she occasionally ventured off into less common modern interpretations of ballet. Minimal costumes featured the five “Jewel” dancers in basic ballet tights and skirts. Their sequin-covered headpieces in different “Jewel” colors, emphasized the idea of a Jeweler struggling with his gemstones. Classical music by Verdi, Gounod and Shostakovich helped inspire the choreographer, dually preserving classical dance and subverting traditional ballet norms.
​
HeGEMony premiered as part of the Sunflower Project - New Choreographers Showcase by Brockus Project Dance in Downtown Los Angeles July 29th and 30th 2023.
Los Angeles Times
Commentary: How the Align Method has redefined classical ballet for Angelenos...
By Morena Duwe | Entertainment & Arts | September 28th 2022
Susan Vishmid, a professional dancer who Cornell refers to as his “secret weapon” because of her attention to detail and emphasis on flawless technique, teaches beginner, intermediate and pointe classes on Tuesday nights at the Pico location.
FREAKS WITH LINES AT ARC PASADENA - A REVIEW
Jeff Slayton| October 5th 2022
Freaks With Lines was founded by Artistic Director, Executive Producer and Choreographer Susan Vishmid in 2017 along with her dancing partner Adam Bloodgood. On Saturday, October 1, 2022, the company presented its Fall Gala Event and fundraiser at A Room To Create (ARC) in Pasadena, featuring primarily excerpts from works by Vishmid and Sadie Black, who also performed in the concert.
KCRW EVENTS
Freaks With Lines Fall Gala Event
events.kcrw.com | September 14, 2022
Freaks With Lines, a Los Angeles-based Dance Company dedicated to nurturing longevity in the art of ballet hosts a Fall Gala Event celebrating the company’s new look with five original works from its ever-expanding repertoire on Saturday October 1st 2022 at 6PM at the ARC (A Room to Create) in Pasadena, CA.
Lowering the Dread Level
by Ann Haskins | February 10,2021
Populated by some of L.A.’s best freelance ballet dancers, the young contemporary company Freaks With Lines streams Trilogy of Relations, three pas de deux looking in on three different types of love. Hannah Keene with AJ Abrams, Sadie Black and Ottavio Taddei and creative director/choreographer Susan Vishmid paired with Adam Bloodgood, portray the three couples.
A ballet company wants to dance its way into your heart...
By Richard Guzman | February 9, 2021
Freaks with Lines, a Los Angeles-based dance company that focuses on classical ballet will be presenting an original dance performance called “Trilogy of Relations,” which will premiere at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, online at BalletProject.TV, a site that streams dance performances.
The contemporary performance will be made up of three ballet duets that touch on three different aspects of love: elation, manipulation and flirtation.