IIf the title of this mixed bill by York Dance Project brings to mind sunshine and cozy vibes, stop there. To mark the 25th anniversary of her company’s founding, Yolande Yorke-Edgier has put together a program celebrating the female dance pioneers of California (as British artistic directors once did). It’s Not All Sunny Weather: The Tragic Life of White Isadora Duncan. The fiery power of Martha Graham, the powerful geometry of Bela Lewicki, and York Edger’s unique creations that feed on the spirit of all three. Surfing America is different.
This is an insight into the history of modern dance, which began with the energetic and passionate Duncan in the early 20th century. Shedding the shackles of classical dance, restrictive fashion, and social expectations, she pursued freedom of artistic expression and was admired at European salons. However, her life was full of tragedies, mainly the deaths of her three children, as well as ill-fated love affairs and financial hardships. All of this is captured in an effective reworking of Kenneth MacMillan’s Isadora, originally produced in 1981 (in this version, she is strangled to death after her scarf gets caught in the wheel of her car). death has been redacted). Amy Teich, in the title role, portrays a woman who floated, skipped, and floated on the wind, living in her own body, unafraid of her emotions, ruled by her senses, and in other words, a woman with plenty of self-respect. will show us.
Modern dance technique actually began with the towering figure of Graham, but her dancing isn’t seen much here, so this revival of 1947’s “The Errand to the Labyrinth” is a real highlight. It is based on the myth of the Minotaur, and a woman (Abigail Attard-Montalto) has been cast as Theseus. Originally it was Graham herself, and you can see her powerful presence, amazingly defined shapes, toes poking into the ceiling, and drama (and some incredible core control) through the stillness. She subtly depicts the Minotaur and other figurative demons. What a woman she is!
Bela Lewicki’s highly technical quartet “Meta 4” (1984) and Yorke-Edgier’s own “Point of Balance” also show an angular intensity, common in contemporary dance these days. It’s very different from a gentle flow or a melting body. It’s a serious, intense program and a valuable history lesson.
