What’s an antonym for disappointing?
On the way to the Joyce, I was tired after being up the night before, and the only thing I was looking forward to was a nap. However, I was completely enthralled once the lights went down. The stark minimalism of the music struck me first, and I realized that this wasn’t going to be what I was expecting (a modernized Giselle with clichéd costumes and dull, predictable dancing). My favorite piece, aesthetically, was Salon Désir. The movements of the woman in the blue dress looked excruciating, and it was incredibly impressive that she and the other dancers were able to make it seem as simple as, say, doing the twist. I wasn’t able to follow the implied plot completely, but the frustration and sexual tension were palpable. The crucifixion motion stood out every time it occurred, but its’ meaning eluded me, and the music provided no clues. As far as effectiveness goes, though, I felt that Loin left the strongest impression on everyone in the theater, myself included. The breaks where the performers told stories engaged the audience with their abruptness and sense of humor, though at the expense of interrupting the dance. I rather liked the ambiguity that ended the dance: one could interpret the mass of dancers as a united whole, or as a burden released from the dancer who had dragged them along. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed. The performance was worth missing a nap.
M Conroy