By Sydney Burrows

In rehearsal at their West Midtown studio, the artists of Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre move precisely and fluidly while maintaining perfect synchronicity. The company’s technique and athleticism are undeniable, but what catches the eye are the eloquence of their lifts and turns and the effortless way the artists move as a group — as if attached by an invisible string. In one moment, the five movers hold an arched backbend for an extended period of time. Despite the obvious difficulty of this move, the motion feels like one long sigh, and the dancers breathe and release their muscles while sinking into the stretched position. Choreographer Tara Lee compliments the dancers and guides them using metaphors. “This phrase is like a run-on sentence,” she says at one point. “Feel like waves here,” she later tells them. The artists play with different approaches to rhythm and phrasing. They discuss movement textures, with Lee encouraging them to choose what feels natural on their bodies.