Threads (part one)

I don't have all the info on this show because I don't have the program with me, but I'll give you the basic rundown on 'Hanging on by a Thread'. This was one show of two put on by the same dance company with (as I understand it) the same dancers in both, although there are two different choreographers. It's a Dublin-based company and the choreographer for the other piece is the Artistic Director David Bolger.

It was the most Modern Dance-heavy show I have seen in a while. Maybe it's just that there was lots of Merce Cunningham movements (with whom Mel Wong worked for all those UCSC folks who are picturing dance performances from college days-gone-by) and that's my strongest experience with Modern styles. The dancers were very good; I am interested to see more of their work while I am in Dublin.

The show was, unfortunately, longer than my attention span. There were interesting transitions in movement (from group doing same movements to the breakdown of that movement into individuals in shared space but moving out of sync; from group movement on a shared theme to different combinations and juxtapositions of theme/style/speed of movement; from individuals to a couple to two couples doing different qualities of weight-exchange movements). And there were a few very striking pieces. But, overall, it was more than I was prepared to experience, especially when I was opposing (or problematising) a narrative in my head.

Interesting moments were when the two couples danced in the same space without interaction and then met in the middle and switched partners to recreate moments from the other couple's choreography. In some ways, the production needed to be lengthy to establish layers of emotion, to build trust.

There was also an excellent use of metal balls and red string. Visually and aurally arresting moments...that were a relief after extended periods during which I felt unclear on the goal or context of vignettes within the larger piece. Maybe I am simply out of practice for dance shows. Maybe I am uninterested in another piece about the emotional and relationship stresses incurred because of the destruction around us. Maybe it's just that I am in the throes of a hormonally-enhanced emotional day and I kept a barrier betwixt myself and the performance. Maybe I need to see the other piece (which is being performed in rep with this one) in order to understand.