"The Copier," Remarkable Music and Dance

Wednesday night we were in the audience for a dance/installation performance of THE COPIER, a new work by Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet.  Program notes prepared us,

...takes its inspiration quite literally.  The flare of a copy machine's light sweeps like a lighthouse beacon [see photo #5 at top] over the floors and walls...Music begins and ends the rhythm of a cantakerous computer printer and other natural and synthetic sounds captured from the city.

Because it was billed as interactive, my first photo--now lost--was of our feet.  We ended up sitting in the perfect spot though the program invited otherwise, "You are welcome to move freely...Seating is not provided and is not encouraged."

Used to theatre spaces, we walked across the huge industrial space to the one place to sit.  Strips of paper, shredded paper, began to fall from high up, an opening in the brick wall behind us.  Birds began to twitter as we waited for the dancers.

Only 40 minutes long, it was one of the most satisfying theatre experiences we've had.  The dance was slightly reminiscent of Merce Cunningham yet warmer, more accessible.  That must have been influenced by the way it was choreographed and conceived, as the program noted, by "Jill Johnson in collaboration with the dancers."

We were caught up in the pulse of David Poe's score.  It could have been fun to move around the edges of the dancers' space but all seemed to be waiting for the other brave soul to do it.  At the end, on the way out, a young man with an Apple laptop downloaded photos from those of us who wanted to do so.  When I asked about people not moving about, he said that the night before they had only gone so far as to play with the paper.  Missed my chance by resisting the urge.

Now the company has a copy of my lost-feet photo.  I still have the one Ron took, ostensibly of me, far right, with the New York Times' photographer (man in the green shirt with very nice camera?) surrounded by many, many more of these souvenirs from an unexpected, excellent, brief experience.  By chance, it was an August synchronicity: the birth of our newest grandchild and my own move to the next stage of aging.

Today Claudia La Rocco's review in today's N.Y. Times reflects what she felt two nights earlier.  Her focus only misses my own unnatural attachment to my scanner.  But how could she know?

Comments

[Hattie]

The music and the movements are quite enchanting. It looks as if I'm stuck with long, skinny commenting for now!

[mockstar]

We loved it too! Going again tonight. The Times review was awesome.

[lilalia]

Sounds magical. It would be nice to see how an audience interacts as well. Too bad it didn't happen in your performance.

[Lydia]

It's times like this that I feel sorry for myself that I don't live in New York City! Your pioneering spirit regarding your next phase of aging is so inspiring.