The Arts in NYC Fall 2012

(Click on the photo)

Like Professor Eversley said, the Joyce Theater was very small.  Surprisingly we were able to sit in the second row, which was great but made watching the dance a little hard later on.  Because we were so close, we could see the dancers breathing and sweating as well as the muscles in every single body part.  Complexions started with “The Curve” that was performed by the company.  I don’t really know that much about Complexions as a company but I think I did learn more from the little breaks where Dwight Rhoden came out to speak with the audience.  It was great that there was a performance from dance students from New Orleans.  Even though they are probably close to us in age, they were obviously more fit and pretty amazing.

My two favorite dances were definitely “Choke” and “Pretty Gritty Suite”. I like that “Choke” was a duet between two men that was face paced and interesting.  Both dances were very dynamic and you can tell that the dancers were very enthusiastic about their performance.  I like that “Pretty Gritty Suite” included all of the whole company just like the first dance, “The Curve”.  Everyone was smiling at the audience and I’m pretty sure the audience was smiling back throughout the dance.

The tambourines in “Pretty Gritty Suite” were very fun and I think they emphasized the differences between modern dance and traditional dance along with the heavy steps and breathing.  In the examples given of traditional dance in class, we’ve learned that traditional dance is very quiet and the dances we saw were completely different.  There were leaps and jumps but most of them ended in heavy landings.  Sound wasn’t ignored or looked over, it was emphasized and actually encouraged.  In “Pretty Gritty Suite”, they wanted the dance to seem lively and loud.  It was very energetic and fun, something that a dance isn’t usually expected to be.  The music was also songs that we may have heard before like “Time After Time” and “Amazing Grace” which surprised me because I thought that the music was going to be classical or just different.

I think that going to see Complexions at the Joyce Theater was a great experience and something that I’m glad to say I’ve done.

Other than my high school’s talent shows, I have never seen dancers performing live, and I definitely never saw professional dancing on stage. Because of this, I tried to approach the experience with an open mind, yet I still couldn’t help but keep thinking how hard it might be for me to stay awake, especially since Wednesdays are my longest schools days. Aside from this, everyone else seemed to be getting themselves ready for a challenge of not falling asleep during the performance, so I wasn’t really expecting anything thrilling.

Like everyone else, I was clearly wrong. This was, quite possibly, one of my favorite live performances I ever saw, of any kind. From the moment the curtain was lifted, and a weird noise/woman’s voice started coming from the speakers, I got excited. The first performance, The Curve, was also one of my favorite performances of that night (though a lot of people might disagree!). I thought it really set the tone for the entire night. The sounds played during it were completely unexpected (as I assumed typical ballet music would be the main theme of the night, and that it would dominate the performance) which, mixed with the dancers’ talent, produced a very intense and powerful outcome.

Being so close to the stage played a part in my fascination with the dancers, and to my surprise with the entire experience. I was able to hear them breathing, see their sweat, and even hear their cues to change position. I particularly tried paying attention to their faces and facial expressions. They were all so serious during The Curve, and as the show progressed it seemed as if the mood shifted to a more positive feeling, with even the lights becoming brighter and warmer in color. This made me think that these performers, besides having the exceptional talent when it comes to dancing, also partake in certain aspects of acting, in a sense. The way they move, the way they look out into the crowd, their facial expressions, all attribute to their personality on stage, with all of this having to be perfected.

The second performance that really stuck out to me was the solo part with the really, really buff guy. He definitely did not look like a typical male ballet dancer; far from it, he actually looked more like a body builder than anything. Yet, despite of his physique, he appeared graceful and was very entertaining. The entire performance that night seemed to be a sort of celebration of defying the typical, expected aspects of ballet. There were even several female dancers who really looked like women, curves and everything, who danced as gracefully as any thin, petite ballerina would. Furthermore, the performance with the buff guy made me realize another big theme that night – it seemed to celebrate the male body, and majority of the dances either focused on men alone, the relationship between male and female bodies, or relationship between two male bodies. Either way, each were filled with intense emotion, and seemed to have a hidden story, each story subject to change depending on how the viewer related to it.

Overall, this was definitely an experience I would love to repeat. It was such a pleasant surprise; it felt like there was some weird familiarity throughout the performance. Aside from the amazing dancing, I was excited about the music they chose (I recognized three songs; “Time After Time”, “I Put a Spell on You”, and a piano rendition of a Linkin Park song, which I ABSOLUTELY loved!), and the entire atmosphere of that night. It helped me gain a newfound passion, respect, and excitement when it comes to art and modern dance.

The Complexions Contemporary Ballet performance at the Joyce Theater was a wonderful and memorable experience not just for me, but probably for most in attendance this past Thursday evening. Complexions presented a dazzling show, Celebrate…Rising Stars in Dance, which not only satisfied the taste buds of some of the older attendees, but us, the ever-easily bored college students, as well in a beautifully organized and choreographed show.

First and foremost, the front-row seats were unbelievable. Indeed, not only could you see the drops of sweat gathering and glistening down the faces and backs of these incredibly talented dancers, you could also see who or what they were looking at and even hear them breathe as they effortlessly glided through the stage. It is one thing to see the dancers perform, but it is entirely another to see them think through and feel their performance – and even see very minor slip-ups.

One uncanny and instantly recognizable feature about these dancers was their intense passion and love for dance. I see a similar type of absolute infatuation with and intrinsic ability for an art when watching artists like Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, and other incomparable singers perform on stage. The men and women on stage that night were indubitably not just dancers or performers, but artists with the talent, drive, and dedication to dance. Whether having been part of Complexions for six years or a part of the New Orleans Ballet Association, there was not a single moment lacking athleticism, grace, and smoothness. It is clear that the company is well deserving of its several awards and notoriety in the world of dance and art.

Sidebar: The company’s Samantha Figgins was the most enjoyable dancer to watch – sorry, Ryan. She adapted to each performance effortlessly and has incredible skill. She was a definite stand out and, I would like to add, she has been with Complexions since 2011 only.

Back to the show itself. Admittedly, bringing all of the individual performances and moments that simply took my breath away back to memory is not a plausible feat for me at this time. I was not particularly stirred by the show’s opening, but founding artistic director and resident choreographer’s, Dwight Rhoden’s, small talk with the audience was quite enjoyable and prepared us all for a great show. I recall that the performance significantly picked up and lightened, however, following the intermission with “Pretty Gritty Suite” (2004). The bright costumes, up-beat music, and tambourines – besides the fabulous dancing of course – all came together and worked magnificently well. As Ben pointed out in his review, however, other performances such as the one to “I Put A Spell On You” were wonderfully choreographed and performed to a powerful song.

Previously, my only exposure to this genre of dance was watching the compellingly choreographed dance routines from the likes of Mia Michaels and Sonya Tayeh on Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance. Consequentially, and unsurprisingly, I was quite apprehensive about attending this performance – hearing some of our fellow classmates’ experiences did not exactly help me feel any better either! I worried that I would be unable to appreciate the kind of art contemporary dance is and that I would not even be able to truly comprehend what it was I was looking at and listening to. Fortunately, I was enthralled and moved by the performance in its entirety and am looking forward to bringing along a couple of friends to see Complexions at the Joyce Theater once again.

An unforgettable, electrifying, and simply beautiful performance, and piece of art, all New Yorkers should have the pleasure of admiring its “entirely new and exciting vision of human movement.” A must see.

– Salma

When I first heard we were going to see a ballet, I innately grimaced and did not think I would enjoy the experience. My initial thoughts that popped into my mind when I hear the word “ballet,” were tutus and boring music, and I just did not think I would be able to ever enjoy the performance. However, when we started talking about modern ballet and how it contrasted between stereotypical ballet, my view on the idea of us seeing the ballet slowly began to change. I liked the fact that these dancers defied the traditional form of ballet through their appearance, the music they played while they danced, and the stomps the dancers implemented into their routines. I also noticed how both genders were now included into ballet, and how the idea of dance itself has become one that is asexual. Given all these developments about dance that I learned before seeing the ballet, my expectations were slightly raised.

When we got to the theater and began to watch the dancers, my entire view on dance underwent a complete transformation. I never thought I would enjoy watching people dance to music and move their bodies in such intricate ways. I developed a sense of respect for the art, one that I never really knew until I actually saw it. I think the fact that we were two rows away created my reverence for dance. We watched the sweat pour off the dancers’ backs, heard them breathe and whisper to each other, and were able to witness the intense concentration and devotion to dance in their eyes. I was able to see the passion and determination in each of the dancer’s eyes. It was evident that dancing was their profession, just as an accountant studies accounting, a lawyer studies law, and how a doctor studies anatomy. It is hard to put a number on how many hours these individuals practice on a daily basis. It was clear, though, these professionals put in an abundance of emotion and creativity in their dances, which is aptly illustrated by their elaborate performances.  Moreover, my favorite performance was one of the pieces done by the group from New Orleans. I enjoyed this specific part of the show because I think it brought an insight into the culture of New Orleans that we on the east coast cannot really appreciate or notice. I liked how they came to represent their neighborhood in an artistic way through dance, and I felt like they embodied the future of dance.

Overall, going to see Complexions was a gratifying experience, and I am glad I got to experience it with my classmates.

After seeing a few clips of modern dance earlier that day in class, I did not know what to expect from Complexions.

The very first performance, THE CURVE made me feel that the show was going to be long and quite painful to sit through. However, as the performances went on, I began to enjoy them more and more. The second performance, MEMORIES; the one with two dancers and a guitarist was my favorite. I loved that they included hip-hop as they danced. I loved the last performance, PRETTY GRITTY SUITE as well. It took the whole second half, but I didn’t mind. It was more upbeat and fast-paced than other performances. Their movements seemed very easy and natural, yet it was quite obvious that they put a lot of work into it. Just from their body and their flexibility, anyone can tell that they sure put their thousand hours. I was at first uncomfortable to be too close to the stage as I felt awkward staring at their bodies. I wonder how they maintain their amazing bodies.

Nevertheless, it was a very interesting experience. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

There was a moment in last week’s performance that made me think of a film called “Paris is Burning,” notably Willie Ninja, Mother of the House of Ninja. Take a look.  What do you think?

Let’s me honest… we all didn’t think the play was going to be stimulating. In fact most of us took bets on who would fall asleep first. Falling asleep in a pile of my own drool seemed very probable at the time. But boy was I COMPLETELY wrong! I actually liked the modern dance performance. From this experience I learned that I cannot be so closed minded and I need to explore all areas of the arts. I can’t make judgements about something without having experienced them.
Modern dance defies ballet. The dancers moved so fluently yet they were not afraid to fall on the ground with a thud. The dancers were graceful, yet they acknowledged gravity. I couldn’t take my eyes of the dancers; they were constantly in action. I realized how much discipline and hard work it must take to be a dancer. I thought it was wonderful how the New Orleans students got the opportunity to be featured in the show. I found it nice how we the audience knew some of the songs in the show; it wasn’t all classical music. One of my favorite acts was the one with the two male ballet dancers. They were phenomenal and full of passion. Another one of my favorite acts was the one with the two male dancers and the guitarist. Their dancing reminded me of the movie “Step Up.” It was very contemporary and not stylistically formal. I ended up surprisingly really enjoying myself at the Joyce Theatre! I’m glad we went as a class and got to embark on this new experience together 🙂

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed watching modern ballet. I had my doubts as to whether it was going to be entertaining or not. All I could think about that day was how long and tedious the night was going to be. However, the time passed by much quicker than expected. There wasn’t a single moment where I was bored. I actually wouldn’t have minded staying for a little while longer to see more.

The Joyce Theater wasn’t very big. As most of us know it was a huge pain just getting in and out of the theater-room. However, that’s just one small problem that’s completely compensated for by the show. The front row seats were also a major plus. I was expecting to be seated all the way in the back. I think the seating is one of the main reasons I liked it so much because I was so close to where the performers were. We were so close that you could see all the sweat dripping from them and hear their breathing as they moved on the stage.

I was shocked by how different it was from what I imagined it would be. I guess I was thinking of the stereotypical ballet with really skinny girls in tutus dancing around the place and twirling every couple of minutes. Modern Ballet just puts a better twist on it to make it more relatable to the younger generation. My favorite part was definitely Memories with D. Gary W. Jeter (the guy with the large tattoo on his back). It showed me how in sync the movements of these guys were. Most of the movements matched each other pretty well. The amount of hours ballet dancers put in has to be crazy. They’ve shown that they’ve put in their 10,000 hours to get that good. They are able to make the viewers feel like they are in a surreal world (or at least I felt that way). I have to give them credit because I would be winded in a few minutes after all of the quick moving all around the stage. I could hear how quick they were all breathing. At the end most of them were glistening on stage from all of the sweat.

Jeter was my favorite of all the performers because he was the most muscular and lean. The definition of his muscles is one of the best I’ve seen in my life. His body-fat must have been lower than 6% to be that “ripped” and “shredded”. Sometimes I found myself concentrating more on the muscles and how they moved than on the actual performance itself. I was surprised at how athletic all of the male performers were. Ballet must be a great way to tone your muscles.

Overall, I would definitely see another performance of modern ballet, but I probably wouldn’t try classical still. This has really shown me that I can’t judge something by their stereotype because it can be deceiving.

The curtain withdrew into its shell and the lights fell heavily upon the stage. Though the veil was lifeted and only a few feet separated my restless legs from theirs, I still felt as though there was a permanent rift in place.

Perhaps it was the wall of sweat and moisture clinging to every bit of exhaled air. Perhaps it was the thin sheet of light that separated the ticket holders from the stage. Or perhaps it was the sheer grace with which the dancers moved. It was almost mechanical, the hinging of their limbs and the freezing of muscles mid movement. Their cold and cobbled stone backs, their white dover abs, their carefully cleaved legs. One can only wonder where the sculpted shavings are.

Either way, the dance itself did not interest nor intrigue me. I do not have a taste for modern dance nor a care in the world for the messages they attempt to convey. It is my personal belief that though dance is a beautiful form of expression and perhaps the most abstract and artistic form at that, it is not a convenient way to tell a story. I feel as though the focus is too much on form and impressment rather than storytelling.

I can’t help but appreciate and be utterly impressed by the ease with which they move. Their limbs sway weightlessly as if bits of dust suspended in the sunlight. I can rant on for days regarding the sheer beauty I admire in their movements. The most impressive to me was the timing with which they matched Nin Simone’s voice. Hearing Nina bellow and falsetto while the dancers matched their windmill legs along to the beat stunned the cynic in me. Just knowing that I could never be capable of such muscular discipline, such separation of body from mind, such soul in my movements, is enough envy to make me stare on in awe even if the thought of dance commonly makes me sick.

Watching the dance from a new perspective, not the obligatory boyfriend support role, allowed me to appreciate the grace and diligence required to ensure such a performance is possible. The complexities of the human body are simplified under sweat and fluidity, and the motions with which they express their message reveal to me that language is simply a conduit, not a necessary form of communication. The complexities of the human body, though often hard to grasp, produce the most beautiful forms of art. In this case, the songs sang by the human body.