Dance Reviews : UCLA Dance Company Offers Program at Royce

Pared down to a fraction of its usual thrifty self, the annual concert by the UCLA Dance Company offered reruns and spinoffs in Royce Hall, Friday.

Much missed was a historical scheme. On other occasions, the steadfast organization may have pointed more or less tellingly to precedent and evolution of modern dance by way of a stellar work. But relying on the talents of graduates from the professional ranks turned up some intriguing ideas.

The cartoon grotesques of Danial Shapiro and Joanie Smith, for instance, which dominated the program, come straight from the heart of black comedy. Joined by John Goodwin in “George and Betty’s House,” the trio materializes as a nuclear family consisting of lookalikes Clark Kent, Olive Oyl and retarded son Lenny (from “Of Mice and Men”).

Virtuoso parodists all three, they created a little household drama from morbidly sexual-compulsive repetitions a la Pina Bausch and turned puerile obscenities into something rhapsodic. Another blow struck for expressionism. More of the same came in an ensemble version, “Family,” that reprised the inane calliope music and keyed the semiotics of relationships to assorted cartwheels and backbends across a club chair.

“A Bedouin’s Fortnight” by Ann Keeling and Janet Walker gave the other members their moment on stage, albeit in a weak imitation of Pilobolus’ “Mirage.” Some human camels tread the sands of Arabia better than others. Angela Leung’s “If Fallen Seven Times,” a repeat from last year, completed the program.