Juilliard Revives Nijinska’s Les Noces; the Irish Modern Dance Theatre Brings Fall and Recover to La MaMa

Two groups build communities with their bodies

Comments (0) By Deborah Jowitt Wednesday, Mar 30 2011

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In solo moments, people sometimes spread their arms like wings, aspiring to freedom. Jumping, too, pulls them away from the earth. Nimble young Mufutau Kehinde Yusuf (Junior) repeatedly vaults straight up, high off the ground, and others face off with him and jump too. We can only guess at their histories. Tkabo could be writing words on the air, Patience Namehe scratching them on her body. And amid the falls and the silences and a passage of wild staggering, they also sing and dance. Usually one person starts, and others join until they become a joyful, swinging, stamping procession, their voices in gorgeous, lusty harmony.

Scott has composed Fall and Recover with sensitivity, skill, and astute theatricality, weaving culturally diverse people into an ensemble, while honoring their individuality. All those onstage (that includes Francis Acilu, Faranak Mehdi Golhini, and Solomon ljigade) set their imprint on the work. And they perform not only together and for us, but with and for remembered others. An unattributed quote by one of them is printed in the program: “When we dance, I could say I’m in heaven because I’m mingling with so many people others can’t see.”

Rosalie O'Connor

Juilliard Dance in the final tableau of Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Noces

Chris Nash

John Scott’s Fall and Recover

Details

Juilliard Dances Repertory
Peter J. Sharp Theater
March 23 through 27
Irish Modern Dance Theatre: Fall and Recover Ellen Stewart Theatre at La MaMa
March 25 through April 9

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In the end, they all lie down and trace their outlines with salt, going over and over the pattern. Under cool lights, the drawings are almost phosphorescent, and when the cast exits, they remain there, shining.

After the bows on opening night, Scott attempted to thank us for coming and to say a few words about the event, but he was drowned out. From backstage, there erupted such jubilant singing that you could swear those vanished others, wherever they are, could hear it too.