D: …it was hilarious, but there was still something poignant and tragic about the lengths they would go to, or the inner turmoil that they were obviously having.
c: Oh, yeah, that reminds me I want to say something about their relationship with “the absent people”. In the last piece, it really felt like there was another set of characters they were playing with offstage. That was really convincing. At one point I even looked behind me to see if there was someone back there who Monica was reacting to. Did you feel that? There was this other imagined audience during the first piece, a Las Vegas sized audience out there behind us who they were also winking at and playing to. Then there were times when they were playing to us actually sitting there. A disconcerting amount of eye contact, which I like....
...Most remarkable about this company’s work is the use of facial expressions, especially to add a comic element. Dancers are so often associated with expressing movement through their body alone, and the face is often almost a blank slate. That is fine for much work but Barnes’ style truly benefits from this holistic element. The facial choreography is distinctive from what is going on down below, but is not distracting. Rather, it’s integral, and recalls a slapstick sensibility that showcases Barnes’ and Bass’ talent not just as trained dancers but also as actresses....
...The performance, 3 Dancers, 4 chairs, 26 words by the Aynsley Vandenbroucke Movement Group was to me a sweet, contemplative exploration of two themes: grieving and semiotics. In the first moments of the piece, a sign informs us that this is a prologue. A woman places a series of written words on the stage. these words have an ominous message. Things are amiss; a man, woman, or child has died. The narrative device of a prologue gives the audience license to read a story into what follows, no matter how cyclical or atmospheric that story may be.....
...Words containers containing contain
What was that ? Who is this word
And serene was this life this one who asked who knew who went before.
Words can dance and dancers be words
Beginning...
...until the words
which cannot stay fixed
either
enter the white heart
of the woman
who is empty space
who has held
the bird the stone the dirt the grave...
...Life Death how the cycle moves around without much change
circle floating around with letters...how people say "I can't find the words to express what I am trying to say" however with these 26 words a new story was formed with new emotions each time...
...The whole piece I was like, PLZZZZ take that hoodie off! I feared he might, actually, explode. Cuz he was super rocking out. A really great way to start the show. I was like YESSSSS, we’re gonna rock out here. That to me is what great dance is really about. So often I feel like it’s all emotional or conceptual or trying to be smart or it's so BORING when really I just want 'em to put on a hot jam and FIERCE it....
...On the short drive home, the skies opened up and I rode in the pounding rain, loudly singing "Bolero" along with the steady beat of windshield wipers and cymbal crashes of thunder....
...I’m Going to Explode, a solo piece with Brian Brooks reminded me of a robotic club dubbed ballet, a progression of movements originating at the shoulder and occasionally finding its way to the rest of the limbs. Mr. Brooks’ lower body traveled in a succession of fourth positions that see....
...the quartet, danced to bolero was fascinating. i loved
the costumes, especially the two men , also dressed in
flamenco ladies' dresses, black and lacy and dramatic.
great... i , myself, enjoyed this piece, but being a
dinosaur, i will have to ponder on it being done without
moving on with one's legs...