Cha Cha Peachy: The Political Dance Project Part 2 of 2 By The Martha Graham Dance Company

Part 1:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/06/cha-cha-peachy-political-dance-project.html


Part 2:
On Friday, June 11 Whom You Know attended The Political Dance Project at the Joyce Theatre and the exposition of Modern Dance was met with resounding applause from a diverse audience who all showed great appreciation.  Peachy Deegan is amazed at what can be done without shoes on the stage! (Peachy loves to make noise with her hard shoes in Irish Dane, taught by Mover and Shaker Niall O'Leary http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/03/movers-and-shakers-niall-oleary-irish.html and to her the shoes are one of the best aspects of dance.  Actually, shoes are one of the best aspects of life if you read all of the footwear columns...)


The quieter, graceful form of Modern Dance took on a patriotic tone in the first section of the show and a more artistic presence during the second half with strong dramatic features.  The lighting during the show was outstanding and the Main Street USA theme was particularly appealing.  Not an empty seat was seen in the audience and that is a credit to the talent of the dance company.  The economic times of this performance are reflected in today's world unfortunately, however the optimism was pervasive.  Not only were these performers outstanding dancers, but they also were excellent speakers and masters of voice projection in such a large theatre.  Provocative questions such as What is an American? were brought forward.  At Whom You Know we are of the opinion that Patriotism holds great importance and with a name like Whom You Know we clearly embrace the English language and feel the whole world, not just America, should too.


Our performance expert on the panel commented:


Friday evening found me at the Joyce Theater for a performance by the Martha Graham Dance Company.  The two pieces performed that evening were part of the company's new "Political Dance Project" which enjoyed an 8-day run at the Joyce.  The first piece, American Document (2010) was a reinvention of Graham's 1938 American Document.  Using film excerpts, photos, and notes from Graham, theater director Anne Bogart, working with playwright Charles Mee, created a dance/theater piece for the 21st century that has at its heart the same question as Graham's original 1936 dance: "What is an American?"  Using the poetry of Walt Whitman and blogs of American soldiers in Iraq, among other sources, the piece offers a unique take on politics, war, and patriotism.  There was some outstanding solo work by the dancers, but what I found most impressive was the ability of the 16-member ensemble to move with perfect synchronization, even when there was no music to guide them or provide a steady beat.  It was truly remarkable!  Joining the ten Graham dancers on the stage were six actors from Siti Company, making this a true collaboration of dance and theater.

The second piece of the evening, "Sketches from 'Chronicle,'" featured three dances from Graham's 1936 piece.  According to the program note, "Chronicle does not attempt to show the actualities of war; rather does it, by evoking war's images, set forth the fateful prelude to war, portray the devastation of spirit which it leaves in its wake, and suggest an answer."  The first of the three dances, "Spectre - 1914," was a haunting and ethereal solo performed by Blakely White-McGuire.  The second and third dances, "Steps in the Street" and "Prelude to Action," respectively, were both ensemble pieces performed to great effect by a group of ten women.  All three pieces were at once thought-provoking, stunning, and beautiful.  Although Chronicle was, according to the company's press notes, was created as "a response to the menace of fascism in Europe," it is still scarily relevant today, given the current world political climate and the ongoing war in which America finds itself mired.  Indeed, both American Document (2010) and Sketches from 'Chronicle', while never  preachy," definitely provided the audience with a unique perspective on politics and war, and encouraged those in attendance to revisit their own opinions on the subjects at hand.

About The Martha Graham Dance Company: 

Founded in 1926 by dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, The Martha Graham Dance Company is the most celebrated contemporary dance company in America. Since its inception, the Martha Graham Dance Company has received international acclaim from audiences in over 50 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The Company has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera House, Covent Garden, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as at the base of the Great Pyramids of Egypt and in the ancient Herod Atticus Theatre on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. In addition, the Company has also produced several award-winning films broadcast on PBS and around the world. 

Acknowledged as “one of the great companies of the world,” according to Anna Kisselgoff, former chief dance critic of The New York Times, the Martha Graham Dance Company has been lauded by critics throughout the world. Alan M. Kriegsman of The Washington Post referred to the Company as “one of the seven wonders of the artistic universe,” while Los Angeles Times critic Martin Bernheimer noted, “They seem able to do anything, and to make it look easy as well as poetic.” Ismene Brown of The Daily Telegraph, London, touted the Martha Graham Dance Company’s performance as “Unmissable,” and for Donald Richie of Japan Times these dancers were “Graham’s perfect instrument.”