Manifold Motion's new show promises a potluck of talent, ideas

An introspective aerialist — and a strolling double-bass player. A distraught soliloquist — and a light-footed dancer ...

These odd couplings of media and tones aren't just an accident. They're the signature note of "Miscellanea II," a performance-art variety show happening at the Canoe Social Club this weekend.

Produced by dance troupe Manifold Motion, "Miscellanea" is now in its second year. Like On the Boards' "12 Minutes Max," it offers a perfect showcase for short-form talent in an eclectic range of disciplines.

Most of its performers have an established connection with Manifold Motion, whose strikingly staged "Woolgatherer," performed earlier this year, marked it as an outfit to keep a sharp eye on.

A multimedia mini-spectacular featuring dance, music, video, aerial work and fiber art, "Woolgatherer" did full justice to the name of the troupe, which truly moves in all artistic directions. Founder-director Keely Isaak Meehan brings a mix-it-up agenda to each of her projects, including "Miscellanea II," whose lineup includes video and sound wizards Mike McCracken and Leo Mayberry, dancer-choreographer-trapeze artist Nicole Sasala, fabric artist-costumer Chaya Eastwood Jones and half a dozen others.

I got a little taste of "Miscellanea II" last week at a rehearsal where aerialist Bridget Gunning (a member of Manifold Motion) engaged in a curious duet with double-bass player Evan Flory-Barnes. While Gunning slipped through complicated twinings of torso and limb in midair, Flory-Barnes improvised melodic pizzicato lines on his instrument below her, approaching her obliquely as he did so.

The connection between the two performers had nothing of burlesque about it. Instead, the piece promised to be a sharp, teasing character study as a spirit of inquiry and discovery gradually overcame Gunning's airborne self-involvement. Beautiful in the plain light of day, the duet should be even better with proper stage lighting.

In another segment, Meehan joined forces with writer Linden Ontjes, whose frantically delivered monologue about tulipomania and marital betrayal was paired with crouching, sidewinding dance moves by Meehan. Again, another odd, arresting match. Other combos will include video accompanied by live music and dance augmented by live vocals. The evening culminates in Manifold Motion's largest ensemble piece yet, featuring seven dancers and six musicians.

All of the material in "Miscellanea II" is new, Meehan says, and some of the faces will be, too.

"Since we're focused so much on collaborative work," she explains, "we're always bringing in new artists."

It should be a potluck of talents well worth sampling.

Michael Upchurch: mupchurch@seattletimes.com