An Introduction to the World of Dance
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The theatre fills with a strange groaning sound as graceful dancers glide onto the stage. There is an awkward break in the noise, during which the dancers continue to move as if to their own internal soundtrack, and then an unpleasant moan disrupts the silence. These sounds seem like a strange introduction to a song but instead they are the song. What the audience is hearing is the work of John Cage, a very influential musician of the 20th century. “Xover,” choreographed by Merce Cunningham of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, is a tribute to Cage. The dancers moved beautifully and powerfully, yet the routine seemed to drag on, likely due to the blend of Cage’s “music” and the bland choreography. The uniform white leotards also did not contribute to catching the audience’s attention.
The mood changes immediately as the upbeat and catchy music of the band Balkan Beat Box blasts through the speakers. People straighten up and lean forward in their seats as the dancers of Gallim Dance prance out on stage to perform “I Can See Myself in Your Pupil.” The women were dressed in short, flouncy dresses in bright colors and the men were wearing casual business attire. The dancers moved in a way that did not seem rehearsed. Their arms and legs were flying everywhere in a seemingly natural manner. The happy beat and the carefree, joyous movement of the dancers made me want to run up on stage and join them. The dancers seemed so comfortable with themselves and each other and their bright smiles throughout the routine conveyed their love and passion for what they were doing. They were able to pull the audience along with them into their animated world of joy and spirit.
Now the stage is dark but for a light shining on a table with a vase full of white flowers. Exotic music fills the air as choreographer Mudhavi Mudgal dances out with her four students. They all wore elaborate, traditional Indian dress, embroidered with shiny thread and flowers. Though the dance was beautiful, I felt much of it was lost for me sitting in the balcony of the theatre. The movements were subtler than those in the other dances since they were focused on the women’s hands and feet and you needed to be closer to the stage in order to observe and appreciate these steps. The dance was obviously well rehearsed as the women remained in near perfect synchronization with each other, throughout the entire routine. The music and the movement were slow, making “Vistaar” a sweet but not very memorable piece.
The last performance of the night, “The Golden Section,” was another burst of energy, resembling but not reaching the level of enthusiasm in the Gallim Dance performance. Miami City Ballet did a ballet routine, choreographed by Twyla Tharp, to the music of David Byrne. They leapt around the stages in perfect jumps and turns. Though the dancing was beautiful and lively, the dancers did not have the personality you would expect from performers in such a dance.
Though the four routines of the night were not equally enjoyable, they were all interesting and original. Somehow four completely different types of dance managed to fit together into one entertaining show. This Fall for Dance was a great way for a person new to the world of dance to expose themselves to different styles and discover what they like.
