...FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
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The New York Times
DANCE
REVIEW 'From
the Horse's Mouth': Turning Introspective and Retrospective By JENNIFER DUNNING
From the Horse's Mouth" is entering its third year in somewhat glossier
form than the original living documentary. Conceived by Tina Croll and James
Cunningham as a look into the heart and history of dance, the show has its
changing cast tell stories and perform a structured improvisation. The heart of
the show is still its reminiscences, which came from 29 ballet, modern, tap and
ethnic dancers on Saturday night at the Kaye Playhouse. Yoshiko Chuma stole the
show, first claiming she was actually another participant, Wendy Perron, and
telling a wandering but revealing anecdote about political protest as dance and
finally slouching by as an unlikely Kabuki slattern. Some stories
presented lively pictures of what it is like to perform, with Linda Lack and
Christopher Elam suggesting the terrifying peril and joy of dancing outdoors in
anecdotes about performing in California and Bali. Diana Byer talked of trying
to dance in the Las Vegas notion of a tutu. There was history, too, when Don
Redlich recalled a visionary dying Hanya Holm and Lance Westergard read a
would-be encouraging letter from Agnes de Mille to Lotte Goslar. Poignant words
by Lois Welk and Marcia Lerner made three deceased dancers live on the stage. Dance today
was alluded to by Arthur Aviles in comments on ownership of dance. Mitchell Rose
used his appearance as a personals ad — "SWM MD, that's modern
dancer" — to find a girlfriend. Mr. Cunningham sent a message to Brad
Pitt. One of the loveliest dance moments came when Deborah
Jowitt began to move to the rhythm of Martine Van Hamel's speech. The company
was completed by Ramaa Bharadvaj, Joann Browning, Brenda Bufalino, Michael
DiFonzo, Douglas Dunn, Arawana Hayashi, Lonné Moretton, Walter Nicks, Caren
Calder Plummer, Victoria Rinaldi, Sheldon Schwartz, Gus Solomons Jr., Sridhar.S
and Ellis Wood. |
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