From mblack@pubnix.net Wed Jun  7 17:03:54 2006
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 17:03:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Black <mblack@pubnix.net>
To: letters@thegazette.canwest.com
Subject: My nearly annual letter about dance at the Fringe

Andrea Spaziani may be dancing a duet this year, but she was
at the Fringe doing the solo "Jane" last year.  While it wasn't
mentioned when the 303 Prize was given out, the August
newsletter from Studio 303, after mentioning the winner, said "A special
mention to Amelie Levesque-Demers and Andrea Spaziani whose work
intrigued the five jurors who attended a dozen shows in less than a 
week." Word is that Mike Hughes of the Uncalled For improv troupe will
be performing in the piece.  And Andrea is sounding like she's going 
to break out of the box most dance companies stay in at the Fringe and be
highly promotional.  She has the humor for it.

It's not Vasanta Male, but the "VasantaMala Dance Company",
which was founded by Shakti's mother and which apparently
brought Indian dance to Japan.  Long time Fringers will
remember that for Shakti's first few visits, her mother
came with her, and I seem to recall she helped with the
choreography.  In those early pieces, it was easy to
see the influence of Indian dance.  And of course, the 
same company did "Dances of India" in 2004, which turned out to
be Shakti doing solo Indian dance.  I had expected a troupe
at the time, but now I suspect it will again be a solo outing.
And like in 2004, Shakti will also be doing one of her own pieces,
"Empire of the Senses".

The Fringe doesn't give an opportunity, it provides a framework
for putting on a show.  It's too easy to forget that the Festival
isn't juried, and it's up to the troupes to do their own promotion.

Sign language is political correctness?  When I saw it in the
InFluxdance preview, I immediately thought they could use it
to bring in a new audience.  Too often, we are seeing homogenized
shows, where the artists are going for an easy audience, rather
than different works that require more work to promote.  When was
the last time we saw Ethel Bruneau at the Fringe, tapping a tribute
to Cab Calloway or something?  I don't recall any shows that specifically 
address the deaf over the years, though obviously dance is something that 
is visual, but here at last is something that those who know sign language 
can follow.

But, to dismiss ASL in a dance piece is also to show a limited view
of dance, because like the standard vocabulary of dance, sign language
is movement, to communicate.  I can remember dance pieces from years
ago because of some simple hand gesture which ultimately conveyed a lot.
I was playing with choreographer Suzanne Miller's one year old recently, 
and the only thing we have to communicate with is movement, and I am
amused that our interaction is so much like the times I've seen his
mother do contact improvisation.  If Margie Gillis can dance to James
Joyces words, then why can't sign language be part of a dance piece?

The InFluxdance piece may turn out to be uninteresting, but at least 
they start with a premise that jumps out.  And the point of the Fringe is
that with low ticket prices, it won't cost much money or time to
be wrong.

Here's hoping the Gazette will actually do some reviews of the dance
pieces at this year's Fringe.  I know I learn from going to the shows,
whether or not I like them.


   Michael Black