Fall For Dance Review
To Fall, or not to Fall?
By: Jasper Cunneen
Dancing is something that comes naturally to most, if not all of us. It is our bodies moving to a certain rhythm and beat. It can be unpredictable and can range from sudden gestures to flowing movements. Dance is a form of expression like paintings, poetry, or songs. However, dancing is the most basic form of expression. We move everyday and our bodies tend to move different ways when we are feeling certain things. When dance becomes art is when it is sculpted and molded into a specific routine that portrays a message. The Fall for Dance Festival, running from September 17th-27th, was the perfect way to view dance as an art. The New York City Center hosted a different show each night, displaying a range of unique styles of dance but all remaining tied to modern dance. I was given the pleasure of witnessing five performances during my visit.
First up was The Suzanne Farrell Ballet’s Pithoprakta. This was my least favorite of the performances as I struggled to grasp the meaning of it. The music, by Iannis Xenakis, seemed incoherent and seemed like it had nothing to do with the dance. It sounded mechanical and random. Technically speaking, the dance was well done. Elisabeth Holowchuk and Matthew Prescott, the two lead dancers, did a nice job and were the only things that kept me slightly interested. Holly Hynes designed attractive, white costumes for the leads. The supporting dancers synced well with each other too. George Balanchine’s choreography was lacking and often confusing. My best guess is that is was a fight between two royalties (the lead dancers dressed in white) over the control of the people (the supporting dancers dressed in black) of their kingdom.
The second act was better than the first in that it had a clear story and a solid performance by the only dancer. Talia Paz doubled as artistic director and lead dancer in this Sharon Eyal choreographed piece entitled Love. Paz, wearing a simple outfit by Dalia Lider, was flawless as she portrayed a woman going through all of the ups and downs of love. She had a beautiful presence moving around the stage, blending fluid movements with sharp ones. The performance was enhanced by the wonderful music of Lisa Germano. The clear message of love was present throughout.
Artistic directors Martin & Facundo Lombard premiered their Lombard Play Piazzolla – The Dance Concert. The two brothers choreographed and performed the dance and did it in fantastic fashion. What made this dance so different was the presence of a band on stage. The band expertly played an exciting tune by Astor Piazzolla. Martin and Facundo had great solos that showed off there astounding talent. Their duet was spectacular as they matched each other move for move in a very fast paced piece that had tones of hip-hop and street dance mixed with modern.
The fourth dance was forgettable. The Kate Weare Company premiered The Light Has Not the Arms to Carry Us. As with Pithoprakta, I couldn’t quite understand the message of the Kate Weare choreographed piece. The music, by Wolfgang Capellari and Gerard Pesson, didn’t have as much presence as it had in the previous two performances. The Leslie Kraus solo was interesting but the presence of the other two dancers distracted me from her performance. The duet by Douglas Gillespie and Kate Weare was good but not great. There was a couple times when both dancers were not completely in unison.
The last performance was one of my favorites of the night. The renowned artistic director Garth Fagan was in attendance for his own choreographed piece, From Before. I loved Fagan’s use of color in this dance. The different colors gave each dancer their own individuality. My eyes were left mesmerized when all of the dancers were on stage at once. Norwood Pennewell and Nicolette Depass were not your typical lead dancers. It was not obvious that they were the leads because Fagan balanced all of the dancers magnificently. It was Ralph MacDonald’s music that really brought everything together. Riddled with African undertones, his hopeful melody and steady beats gave life to the dancers and even spread into the audience.
The hour and a half presentation by the Fall For Dance Festival included enlightening performances overall. The different styles of dance shown were all unique and there is clear talent among all of the performers. Modern dance, highlighted in each performance, is very powerful. It is using the body as an extension of the soul.
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