CriticalDance Forum

Here's a little preview of the weekend's performance.<P>It's not all politics down here!<BR> <A HREF="http://www.herald.com/content/today/entertainment/arts/digdocs/081117.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.herald.com/content/today/entertainment/arts/digdocs/081117.htm</A>

Very best wishes to all those involved in the debut in the new venue. We saw 'Two Bits' in SFBs London Gala and my memory is of a sparky, sexy piece. It was probably the Tomasson work I enjoyed most from the week.

Yeah, "Two Bits" is definitely a winner. It's a sexy work by Tomasson, and as I recall, it's what made boys in SF and London fall in love with Vanessa Zahorian. Shag, do you know who will be dancing this work for Max Dance? I assume David will be dancing the male part?

Fair concerns, Grace, but we really had no choice. Miami is a "young" arts town, by that I mean very little history and many transient or pert-time residents. Thus there are few house at all, let alone "Ideal" so we have a quandry. The company has been hop-scotching around to theaters which have resident theater companies, so we are pushed to the least desirable dates (last season we had two performance series out of four significantly altered by two seperate hurricanes). Maximum could never come close to make a presentable showing where MCB performs (2800 I think) and the only other venue is a barn that seats 2200. The Gusman (where I'm about to head off to for the second night's performance)is the oldest hall in South Florida and truly beautiful. Also, we used to do runs of Thurs thru Sun at the 600 seat Miracle and we cut out Thurs, so the costs are about the same. The real problem, that only those familiar with Miami would be aware of, is that our downtown sucks! That is bigger than the seat number and we were worried that people would not follow. As it stands now, we have sold more tix in this series than any other. BIG EXHALE.<P>Gotta run<P>

Here's a review from the Sun Sentinel. Guillermo Perez has a great eye and everyone in the dance community down here takes his opinions, good or bad, to heart.<P>There is also a small blurb on Sarasota Ballet at the end.<BR> <A HREF="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/daily/detail/0,1136,36000000000130489,00.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/daily/detail/0,1136,36000000000130489,00.html</A>

As I lamented about a month ago, there were no reviews posted on the web for Program I. Max Dance has them posted on their web, with the author's permission:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B><A HREF="http://www.maximumdancecompany.com/reviews/sentinel.htm" TARGET=_blank>Maximum Dance launches season with smiles</A></B><P>By GUILLERMO PEREZ, SPECIAL TO THE SUN-SENTINEL<BR>TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2000<P>Showing howfanfare can signal admirable ­endeavors, Maximum Dance Company opened its season Friday at the Coconut Grove Playhouse on a supreme high note. The trio of contemporary pieces that made up the bulk of the program had varied flair and a wealth of choreography performed with total commitment<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><BR>Scroll down to the second article on <B><A HREF="http://www.maximumdancecompany.com/reviews/sentinel.htm" TARGET=_blank>this Maximum Dance page</A></B>.<P><BR>[Edited by Azlan to link to Maximum Dance page]<p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited November 22, 2000).]

Here's the Herald's Program I review:<P><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B><A HREF="http://www.maximumdancecompany.com/reviews/herald.htm" TARGET=_blank>Troupe’s opener a Maximum endeavor</A></B><P>JORDAN LEVIN, The Miami Herald<BR>THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28.2000<P>The opening performance of Maximum Dance Company’s fourth season last weekend at the Coconut Grove Playhouse may have been the troupe’s best concert ever.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><BR>It's the first article on <B><A HREF="http://www.maximumdancecompany.com/reviews/herald.htm" TARGET=_blank>this Maximum Dance page</A></B>.<P><BR>[Edited by Azlan to link to the Maximum Dance page.]<p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited November 22, 2000).]

Thanks, Shag. I'm glad Maximum Dance was able to get those articles. All round great reviews! Congratulations!

Let me add my congratulations as well. It's good to read about Maximum Dance going from strength to strength. In general I continue to find the concept of a small, top quality ballet company very interesting, especially as there is no parallel here in the UK.

Just to show I can take the bad with the good, here's the Miami Herald review. We got thumped!<P>While she raises some relevent points, she does not get Danny Roessel's work and is on the record as hating Yanis and David's work (which she is entitled to do) she is a tad mean spirited.<BR> <A HREF="http://www.herald.com/content/thu/entertainment/arts/digdocs/074668.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.herald.com/content/thu/entertainment/arts/digdocs/074668.htm</A>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>The three substantial pieces Maximum Dance showed in its season launch in September suggested the troupe had finally achieved some maturity in its programming. But last Friday, in its first performance at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, the group reverted to the kind of works that keep it from earning serious consideration as a contemporary ballet company.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>You're being generous shag when you say '..a tad mean-spirited...' I don't think we get this type of vitriolic review in this country to the same extent as you do in the US. <P>I sometimes wonder about the degree to which Arlene Croce is responsible for this vicious style. Her Stuttgart demolition job is still held up as a model in some quarters. <P>It's one thing to be personally unimpressed or worse with the selection of works, but it's another to say what has been said above. In particualar, '....keep it from earning serious consideration as a contemporary ballet company.', suggests that this is not just a personal opinion, but one that extends to the dance community in general.<P>Further, if a Company puts on '..three substantial works..' in one programme with fine dancers, then I would have thought that was enough to gain 'serious consideration' in any circumstances.<P>Overall, a review which might keep J Levin from earning serious consideration as a contemporary ballet critic.

Stuart<P>Thanks for that. When one is as involved as I am in Maximum Dance, it is impossible to even feign impartialiaty.<P>I am very proud to be associated with this company on many levels and I truly believe that this is and will continue to be an important company, rather than a regional daliance. That is why I continue to take up space on this forum, despite the fact that Maximum is not NYCB, ABT, SFB or even MCB.<P>I will not be a whiner and the fact that Ms. Levin feels it incumbant on herself to choose sides between MCB and Maximum is really unfortunate. Miami NEEDS more quality arts organisations and needs local support. The difference between the two reviews is questionable from an intellectual honesty point of view. By that I mean the tone. <P>Program II was darker and more abstract and not as "feel good" as Program I, but there never seems to be any consideration for the attempt to bring something different to the market. Some attempts will be more successful than others, but we are the only company in America that has done Danny Roessel's work (Flanders is doing an entire evening of his work next year), the only company in Florida (perhaps the Southeast) to do Mark Morris, Bejart, Barbay, Ivonice Satie, Kevin O'Day, Julia Adam among others and will be doing more Margo Sappington this year, simply because she enjoys the company.<P>David Palmer and Yanis Pikieris have danced every prince role that exists, so they are experimenting with more abstract with their own chore. It ain't all going to be a home run, but I really think that unless we are doing a story ballet or Balanchine (which we won't as we have one of the best companies in the world specialising in that genre next door) we can expect dislike, but the vitriol, as you point out, really is disheartening.<P>I can comfortably invite any member of this forum , as dance enthusiasts, to make every attempt possible to see Maximum and I guarantee, regardless of aesthic preference, you WILL find something that challenges you.<P>I hope this did not come off as too defensive. Ms. Levin is just another audience member you will continue to try to reach, I just wish she didn't have such a widespread forum for what I beleive to be a minority view.<P><p>[This message has been edited by shag (edited November 24, 2000).]