Friday, February 06, 2004

all Momixed out

The lights dimmed slowly and the curtains rose to reveal a large hammock stretched across the stage. A female dancer poked her leg lazily out and drew it back in again. She spun herself around in the hammock and used the bungee-like cords attaching the hammock to the stage to bounce around.

It could be taken literally as someone playing with a hammock but I guess it was also meant to give the illusion of a pupa (is that the word? i have forgotten my science entirely) a chrysalis, perhaps is the better word? a metamorphosis, a birth, a growth.

It was truly the genius of Moses Pendleton, artistic director of Momix. He choreographed, chose the music and the lighting and was a delight to talk to last week over the phone.

The show was Opus Cactus, Momix's latest programme. Inspired by the American Southwest desert, the performance made use of various props like a weird metal sculpture, 3m long poles but the backdrop was simple - lighting was used to evoke the different times of the day, sunset, night, day.

It was gorgeous and entertaining. The athletic ability of the dancers was amazing. And Pendleton's "new movement ideas" were enthralling. I was absolutely blown away by what he could imagine and translate into dance.

Although in some sets I questioned whether it could really be described as dance. Like one short set where the male dancers were suspended upside down, lipsyncing to the song.

Momix has been compared to Cirque du Soleil and while I do like both groups, I'd say the comparison isn't correct. Momix is less gimmicky and fantastical but equally entertaining. My guess is that Momix is merely trying to bring dance to a whole new level.

No comments: