Voiceless -- A Theatrical Debut for John Hartter

By John McDowell
October 5, 2024

I recently had the pleasure of watching Voiceless, a theatrical performance of cabaret dance, storytelling, and song. Budding dancer, writer, and actor John Hartter of RebelHart partnered with Sanda Lungu of SouL Dance Studio to perform the debut at Sarasota Contemporary Dance (SCD) on September 21st.

It was a promising start. John's story came across as honest, engaging, and emotional. I could tangibly feel the inner struggle that he felt. Additionally, the movement, rhythm, and creativity complemented by partner Sanda Lungu were striking, especially in the contrastingly dark setting of the SCD studio. The internal conflict was palpable in more than one sense.

The performance navigates three Acts beginning with "Voiceless," the first scene, followed by the heartbreaking scene "Tell Me about the Stars," which recounts the loss of his daughter. In Acts II and III, we see the progressive maturation from "Losing Control," to the final sequence of "Seeing Clearly," "Smooth Whiskey," and "Letting Loose." It is a natural development that showcases John's journey to finding his voice through hardship, resilience, and the discovery of dance.

What stood out the most was John's scriptwriting in the 7th scene called "Smooth Whiskey." John himself admitted after the performance that his ability to write was surprising. It was a turning point in the plot, an awakening of sorts. The voice of his writing style, however ironic to the name of the performance, provided an element of rebirth, resilience, and confidence to his earlier scenes' character. It was a delightful narration that fit well with the overall sequence of the performance.

From "Voiceless" to "Letting Loose," John and Sanda have a unique eight-scene production here. It was entertaining and thought-provoking – the type of performance that has you pondering your own journey through life's obstacles.

I'm glad for John to have found his voice. And, I'm looking forward to the next performance.

For more information on upcoming performances, visit the Facebook page for RebelHart or SouL Dance Studios.