Say hello to Sara Michelson. I have an instant affinity for her dancework, since she made her debut at PS 122 in NYC, which was also the site of my first semi-pro gig (I was only a technical advisor, but it was NEW YORK, baby!).
The woman is making quite a splash in the dance world with some pretty unusual pieces–when Baryshnikov commissioned her to do a piece for his White Oak Project, for example, she responded by choreographing a piece where he was shackled and (mostly) stripped. Her P.S. 122 piece actually hid the dancers for a good portion of the dance.
All of these gimmicks might lead you to think that she is part of the movement that Apollinaire dubs "the freaky stuff." But really, I don’t think so. She is saved, in my view, by her comment in this interview on her new work at BAM:
This is full-frontal dancemaking. I know it’s weird, but I’m wondering if I’m a dancemaker. Maybe other people don’t wonder that about me – maybe they do – but I’m wondering. If the work wasn’t intellectual or conceptual – if I wasn’t protected by my own cleverness about how to present my ideas and just made a dance – what would it be?
That takes guts. Her cleverness has already garnered her attention and success; she could do something like MoMix, and just keep on doing variations of a very clever theme.
But no; she’s pushing herself, even at the age of 42, with a bad injury that may make this her last dance. I have to respect that a lot; and could only wish for the ability to go and see her.
"DOGS" runs Wednesday through Saturday at BAM Harvey Theater, 651 Fulton St., Brooklyn. Tickets $20-$40. Call 718-636-4100 or visit bam.org.
Tags: sarah michelson, BAM, dance, modern
1 Comment
354935 Blog Verification…
354935…