Dances, to me, are exhibitions of coordination, grace, beauty, and acquired skill. I’m not saying that all dancers must meet this abstract expectation, but That’s what I go to dances to see, and what is common in my small perception of the performing arts.
That’s why I found this dance to be so strange, but not completely appalling. There was definitely an air of practice, skill, and powerful messages, all of which is traditional in dance art, but I did notice that there was also an effort to stray away from ortholithic presentations of body movements.
In each section, the dancers seemed to “do their own thing” more than following the music. Each dancer had a specific role, but it wasn’t that perceptible. I had a difficult time ascertaining the purpose of each movement, the message the performance was supposed to convey, and what I was supposed to feel. That differentiated the dance for me.
As someone who likes organization, predictability, and closure, this dance did not satisfy any of those. The music would end, while the dancers would continue to make movements. The dancers would not coordinate their movements with the rhythm. It’s not a bad performance, by any means, but I was extremely confused.
Overall, I felt confused by the performance. I did not understand what was happening, and if I don’t understand, it is much more difficult for me to follow what is going on. I do appreciate the tremendous effort that the dancers put into their performance, regardless of the audience’s perception of them.
