A Tale of Two Companies
I had the good fortune of attending two shows at The Joyce the last two weeks: Garth Fagan Dance Company and the Han Tang Yuefu Music and Dance Ensemble. I know I have said this before but there really is not a bad seat in this theater...my friend and I were initially concerned that our seats were in the far left corner but lo and behold...perfect view. I wish I could say that about other theaters in the city but the Joyce is the only place I can be guaranteed a great view.
So what can I say about Garth Fagan..to quote the movie "Big"- " I don't get it!" Apparently I was the only one because the audience loved it. To me- I could not tell if it was the choreography or the dancers but everyone's arms seemed really weak and lazy which was very distracting. I did like the last piece and I loved the fact that a 50 year old man was dancing with the company and holding his own. He has been dancing with the company for 39 years...I am never complaining about my 35 year old body making it through dance class again!
Tonight was a very different dance company- Han Tang was Chinese Musical Theater and while it was a little too long for my taste it was lovely. I have spent some time in China and love the Chinese traditions and culture. This show embodied all of that. Is it possible to love something and hate it at the same time? I loved that they demonstrated an entire tea ceremony and I hated that it was the ENTIRE tea ceremony. I might have fallen asleep at some point. I loved that all the players danced and played instruments...however, the music they played, after awhile it was a little whiny for me. The drumming was unbelievable- who knew that taking off a shoe in unison could be a beautifully choreographed moment. I did not know what to expect and I truly enjoyed the experience.
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