Nov 25 2012
I Can’t Swim
Credit To: http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2012/11/17/arts/17BARNARD.html
I guess I wasn’t dancing right all my life. The modern dance routines of the Barnard Fall Project showed a very unique and different vision of dance. Although you could clearly see some ballet, and Caribbean and African influenced dances within the various routines, the way they moved and used the music was very different than anything I have ever seen. There were some parts that were very confusing, even though the dancers gave you hints as to what they were trying to portray, but I was still very confused. Some parts were simply funny to watch, even some of the other audience members laughed at what they saw because it looked silly. Then there were creepy moments like when the girls put their hair over their faces, reminding me of the movie the Grudge or the Ring. The last routine was fun to watch because it was so upbeat and there was a lot of organized movement, very different from the other routines. I especially liked when out of nowhere some hip-hop music started playing as the routine was finished, it was funny to hear some everyday modern music. The dancers danced well, they looked good as they danced and transitioned and did all of these strange routines, I simply didn’t understand what each routine was trying to say, which led me more to watching the dancers just dance and not really paying attention to what they were trying to show. I enjoyed it, just didn’t understand it.
I agree with you that the Barnard Fall Project showed a very unique and different vision of dance. I thought it would be like the dancing from Dancing with the Stars. I’m glad you noticed about the Caribbean influences and ballet influences because I wouldn’t have noticed this. I agreed that the dancers danced well and it was refreshing to hear some modern day music in dance. I didn’t understand either, but reading the pamphlet they handed out cleared up some of it for me. What theme do you think the dancers were trying to convey and what does this say about the Modernism of dance? What could the dancers have did to make their vision clearer?
I like how you were able to observe the many different types of dance that influenced this performance. After reading your review, I was realized how each of their movements were based on ballet, Caribbean and African influence. There was some major hip movement going on in that performance, but it did look quite awkward as they were moving their hips and walking. It is really difficult to decipher the meaning to each performance. I am sure that we weren’t the only ones lost in this performance. At least, you enjoyed some parts of the performance.
I think everyone can agree that they were confused out of their minds that night. But I do like that you recognized different styles of dance that were incorporated into the pieces. I also felt the same way when they had their hair over their faces. It was definitely something out of The Grudge. I really didn’t understand anything from that night and I try not to think about it.
It quite fascinates me that you were able to enjoy it despite the befuddlement it brought to our brains. Maybe that IS or could be one intention of their “project.” Especially it being so experimental. After reading your experience I somehow regretted to have been squeezing my brain trying to “make sense” of the show while i could have just sit back and try to enjoy the overall experience. I admire your positivity and optimism towards this project.
Being that we sat next to each other for this performance I’m sure you know the level of confusion that we shared. Consistent looks at one another truly illustrated that but I wish I could’ve spoken to either the director or the dancers and get the true motives of the dance number to actually understand what was meant to be portrayed.