To call Pilobolus a dance performance would detract from its purpose. The troupe, instead of utilizing traditional dance moves, emphasizes athletics and interpretive movements that focus on the lines of the body.
Composed of four acts, the show varied in style and speed. The acts, titled “Redline,” “Rushes,” “Duet” and “Day Two,” were completely unrelated, differing in theme, musical style and technique. The pieces reflected the stylistic times in which they were choreographed, ranging from 1980 to 2009.
Rebellion against traditional dance movements is a part of the Pilobolus method. The group focuses instead on inventive movements of creative activity.
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Pilobolus Dance Theater
Memorial Hall
Monday
Arts verdict: 3.5 of 5 stars
The newer performances “Redline” and “Duet,” choreographed in the last year, incorporated the greatest amount of interpretive and athletic movements. In the earlier numbers, there was a greater element of traditional dance.
In such a long performance, the continuous stream of seemingly improvised movement periodically worked against the group’s cause. At times it made the performance too abstract to understand the story.
The performers incorporated humor into some of the pieces. The number “Duet” involved a duel between a newlywed couple, complete with a wedding dress and tuxedo.
In the final piece, “Day Two,” both female and male dancers came out clad solely in nude underwear.
While this received some shocked gasps from the audience, it worked with the lighting to highlight their complex movements.
The show opened and closed on an exciting note, with the dancers breaking into fast-paced movements. Yet at certain points the performance bordered on being too slow.
In these slower moments, the dancers focused on the movement of their bodies in connection with the other dancers, contorting into impressive pretzel-like formations.
The dancers ended the performance on a light note, sliding across water on the floor and break dancing, sending water into the applauding audience.
Though the performance took some interpreting, the show provided great entertainment for the audience.
Contact the Arts Editorat artsdesk@unc.edu.
