An Uninitiated’s Take On “We’re Gonna Go Dancing!!” #2

(We’re Gonna Go Dancing is Japan Contemporary Dance Network (JCDN)’s project to promote Japanese contemporary dance and and will tour five cities in four countries -Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Bangkok (Thailand), Manila (the Philippines), Solo and Jakarta (Indonesia). The performance described was performed in The Actors Studio, in Kuala Lumpur on the 10 August 2007.)

Dance 4: Masako Yasumoto - "NAHANAHA"

source: http://www.jcdn.org/

After the intermission, Masako Yasumoto burst upon the stage. Impish, mercurial, she floated and whirled across the stage in effortless grace. She seemed to defy gravity and danced like a playful spirit. What a delight to watch! My eyes were reverted on her and followed her every movement as she took control of the stage.

source: http://picasaweb.google.com/patravaditheatre

Her first dance with the doll was mesmerizing as she looked like a doll herself. And when she took over the role of the doll come to life, the illusion was complete. The effectiveness was as much due to her look as her dance. I hesitate to say it for worry of being branded but to me she was absolutely ravishing. And her dance was erotic without being suggestive.

source: http://picasaweb.google.com/patravaditheatre

She can make every small movement interesting like the gradual chopping of one arm with the other hand from the fingers to the shoulder which by itself is not terribly interesting. But when she did it, it was as if she had executed flawless exquisite moves.

She seized your attention, held it captive and just would not let go until she disappeared from the stage.

source: http://picasaweb.google.com/patravaditheatre

Her second act started with a video of two daisies floating on the water languidly and ended up fighting (for want of a better word). Then once again the atmosphere became magically charged as she flitted in with two large flowers for eyes. Once again, we are treated to a powerful, energetic, highly skilled performance. It ended with a video showing a flower that somehow grew among the protruding roots of a tree. She appeared on all four on a lease. She surveyed the flower with interest. Then grabbed it with her mouth and chomped it down. Flowers have lost their innocence or are no longer protected by it.

source: http://picasaweb.google.com/patravaditheatre

Dance 5: Ko&Edge Co. - "DEAD 1+"

For all the impressive dances we had seen thus far, the one that affected me the most was the last act of the night by Ko&Edge Co. And the greatest impact was the first 15 minutes of the dance where ironically, there was no dancing. In fact, there was no movement at all. When the spotlight shone on the three silver painted figures, their back was to the audience. They were inverted, legs facing the ceiling and the whole body rested on the shoulder with the head somehow tucked away. They looked exactly liked headless corpses.

Source: http://www.kakiseni.com/

The figures stood motionless, just like that, on their shoulders for 15 minutes while loud Jimi Hendrix music blared away. I was not so sure whether that or a more eerie music piece would serve to create a greater effect. But if the idea is to show a contrast between the music and the dance, then that is an excellent choice. The strain must have been tremendous to maintain that position but the corpses stood their ground. It was amazing that a motionless dance (what contradiction!) could be so interesting and captivating.

source: http://picasaweb.google.com/patravaditheatre

It was equally absorbing when the figures started to slowly move as they bended their knees and lowered their hands in exquisitely slow incremental moves. You can see the fluttering and quivering of the muscles as they strained against the unnatural moves. As the legs were lowered over the hidden heads, the curved backs looked like grotesque alien creatures.

source: http://picasaweb.google.com/patravaditheatre

When these creatures tried to get to their feet, they stumbled and crashed, backward and forward full length on the floor. Struggled poignantly to their feet only to stumble and violently crashed again. They are like full grown new born (I know – contradictions!) trying to stand on their feet for the first time. I have never seen a dance so original and so contradictory. A dance that is not a dance if going by traditional classification. How can it even be a dance if there is no movement? But I had not seen a performance so beautiful for such a long time. I salute you, Ko Murobushi-san for your daring creativity that showed me something I have never seen or even thought existed.

source: http://picasaweb.google.com/patravaditheatre

All the way on the long drive back, we could speak of nothing but the dances. It was a night we will never forget.