Pilobolus makes me wonder: Is that dancer being lifted by the neck, or is it just a clever illusion? Have I ever seen someone’s spine move like that? How strong am I? The company, dating from 1971, mixes theatricality with Herculean strength and a surgeon’s precision to create spectacular moving images that soothe and startle. Their May 20th program at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts featured five short films interjected between five live performance pieces. Each film was thematically linked with stage piece that followed it. First up was Welcome. The film, a panning shot of the dancers’ legs, feet, and faces, was a cheerful prelude to the body-puzzles yet to come. By contrast, the live performance of On the Nature of Things evoked an ethereal, almost ominous mood. This duet-turned-trio, performed by two men and one woman–all of them near-nude–was danced on, around, under, and hanging from a narrow table no more than two feet long. The environment brought to my mind the story of Adam, Eve, and their departure from Eden. Next were two animated films: The Deep, in which scrap metal materials were designed to create underwater scenarios, and Fresh Guacamole, a delightfully creative film that features the most imaginative […]
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