I saw Meeting with Bodhisattva at BAM his week and despite my fatigue, I was so happy I went. Meeting with Bodhisattva tells the story of the the Buddhist figure, Bodhisattva, through music, martial arts, and dance. I was in awe at the ease and precision of the performers. The music and the movement was very powerful, yet graceful and mesmerizing.
I read in the program that The U Theatre's director, Liu Ruo-Yu, requires his students to first learn meditaion before learning drumming, theater and dance. I think this explains the performers incredible calm throughout the piece and even when receiving a standing ovation during their bows. They were so peaceful.
Two thumbs up.
30 October 2008
Meeting with Bodhisattva @ BAM
Jo Strømgren Kompani, "The Society"
What began as a delightfully confusing evening, developed into kind of funny and then into just plain dumb. I visited Abron Arts Center in LES last night to see Jo Strømgren Kompani, a Norwegian dance theater company. Their latest work, "The Society" was raved about in the papes, so I went to check it out. Here's the Times review that hooked me.
I left a little miffed, but wouldn't not recommend this show. It wasn't awful, it just wasn't my taste of humor.
26 October 2008
Mo' Money, Mo' Problems
i'm lucky to have so many patient people around me. mine has been waning for some time and I'm learning a good lesson. i'm having trouble snapping out of self-pity mode and i know i just need to jump, but i'm anxious and self-conscious and stubborn. and mainly i'm broke. not poor, but feeling locked down. i hear biggie... but i wouldn't mind a winning lottery ticket finding it's way into my hands.
View blog reactionsODC/Dance + Bangarra + Steve Reich Evening
I've had a pretty eventful week in terms of seeing dance. I bought tickets to see ODC/Dance at the Joyce and a pair of tickets at BAM to see Bangarra's Awakenings and Steve Reich evening. Here are my thoughts.
ODC/Dance is a San Francisco-based contemporary dance company who are quite influential in their local dance scene. They have their own school and theater; they do a lot of outreach and art-in-education programs; they pay and insure their dancers; they're mission is simple, but realistic. They're the Company to be in if you're a dancer in San Fran. With all that said and after reading the dancer's bios, I thought I would be in for a real treat.
In as few words as possible: I was completely unimpressed. Unimpressed with the dancing. Unimpressed with the choreography. Unimpressed with the costumes, lighting, and staging. While I was impressed by a few of the dancers (particularly Daniel Santos), I felt that the whole evening was predictable, mediocre, amateurish, boring.
I love to watch dance that's based in the roots of a particular culture and incorporates modern and contemporary styles to create something newer. I saw Bangarra Dance Theater at BAM this week and really enjoyed it. They performed their newest work, Awakenings, stories of rites of passage in ancient Aboriginal culture. The Company is made up entirely of Aboriginal/mixed Aboriginal dancers.
I was struck by how seamless the movement felt and how honest and sincere the performers were. I admit some of the choreography wasn't awesome, but the commitment the dancers gave to the movement drew me in. I was especially floored by the lighting and the set.
I was first introduced to the music of Steve Reich while studying dance at CalArts. It once occurred to me that his was Music for Intellectuals and it made me feel good to be truly into it; that I could find the soul in it. I understood it and was intrigued by it. It's very mathematical and pendulous. Rhythms are established then mixed and lost and found again. I went to see Steve Reich Evening at BAM as part of a city-wide celebration on the composer's 70th birthday.
While this wasn't the best collection of his work, I was mesmerized by the musicians. I'd never seen Reich music played live and I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect. Most of he dancing was dynamic and excited and matched Reich music wonderfully. And while a lot of the dancing was repetitive and kind of dull, I enjoyed the precision and commitment the dancers provided it. My biggest problem with the whole evening was the arrogance of the artists and the producers. Exhibit A: Poems symphonique pour cent metronomes by Gyorgy Ligeti, in which a hundred metronomes are set off onstage and slowly wind down. Further, I found it more than slightly annoying that the dancers were so casual on stage, chitchatting, removing costume bits, lackadaisical technique and I got the strange feeling several times during the evening that everyone was marking.
A more thorough, less biased review may be found here.
Next week, I return to BAM for Meeting with Bodditsavah and then to NJPAC for the Movie Music of Spike Lee. Raucous soul clapping for me and my cultureficationizing. View blog reactions
14 October 2008
Wishlist #4: Oooh Gimme!
On the twelve days of Christmas, I want alla this under my treeeee...
"Paper Planes" Pharoah Poncho by 21 Century Maroon Colony, $88. Ray of Hope Necklace by Obey, $37. Swarovsky Gold Bamboo Hoop Earrings by Melody Ehsani, $250. Bal Dress by Miss Bruno, $310. Tessy Leather Belted Wool Coat by Mackage, $693. Boulevard Boot by Dolce Vita, $178. Laptop Wallet by Working Class Heroes, $105. Emily Slingback Platform Shoe by Frye, $228. Tasha 3/4 Sleeve Short Leather Jacket by Mackage, $594. Amsterdam Royal 8i Commuter Bicycle by Electra, $1,200. Plank Graphic Yoga Mat by Plank, $80. Amour All Handbag by Tano, $295.
Omodaka: Kyoteizinc
When it's done well, I love dance on film. My homeslice Sodi passed along this video clip from Japanese electro-pop group OMODAKA. Performed by dancer Masako Yasumoto, the "glitch dancing" is really nice to watch. The play with costume and layers and multiplicity adds depth to the dancer's movements.
I wish artists in the States would incorporate more interesting dance into their music videos. Once you've seen a bouncing booty, you pretty much get the gist.
Audition: DV8 Physical Theatre
www.dv8.co.uk/
I auditioned for this company last weekend. It was a six-hour process that left me really exhausted, mentally and physically, but also completely enlightened and more aware of where my path is headed. I'm going to Europe. I don't know when or how I'm getting over there, but I feel like that's where my career is. I feel like the projects that I've worked on and the people I've worked with have all been a precursor to what's to come.
Just need to say that out loud... see what comes of it.
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