One of my plans for the future is to teach a course on film and dance. I even have an article coming out in the fall on dance in silent German cinema. Thing is, I know very well that my knowledge of dance studies lacks both depth and breadth, so I have long dreamed of collaborating with a dance professor who will steer me in the right direction. So, when I learned that the Dance program at Texas Tech was hosting the first annual Flatlands Dance Festival, I figured it would be a good chance to see what the dance faculty were up to. The performances were all by students in the dance program, so I have to admit that I braced myself, as contemporary dance is one of those things that if not done extremely well, can be truly agonizing to watch. Some arts are more forgiving - if a mediocre pianist is playing in the background, it doesn't make you want to run for the door, whereas bad dance can be excruciating. I steeled myself and set out to investigate.
Upon arrival, I was amused to see that since much of the audience consisted of the friends and family of the performers, almost everyone had brought a bouquet to give to their favorite dancer, allowing me the near-magical experience of sitting in an audience full of flowers. The girl who took my ticket asked if I was there to see anyone in particular, and was delighted when I said no, since this indicated a level of community interest in dance. I'm always happy to represent the world of dance fans.
The performances themselves were impressive, with a level of inventiveness and wit that I had not expected. Another pleasant surprise from the Lubbock avant-garde.
No comments:
Post a Comment