Good Morning Cygnet!

<P>I am new to this board, but find your question a good one. Being somewhat of a professional ‘audience member’ within the dance realm <I>(although I was a professional performer for many years)</I>, I would suggest you begin your journey into modern dance through those senses which are not your primary conduits. Meaning, instead of focusing on the dance itself, I believe you’d experience much more of the complete spectrum of modern dance through the choreographers and THEIR message/or background (not merely the companies), the music, the rhythms, the settings (performance art style vs. traditional staging), costumes, stories, ethnic origins (musically AND choreographically), and geographic locations. By using your mind to learn about the dance styles and choreographers, using your ears to find those sounds, music, and rhythmic styles which ‘turn on’ your own creative juices, and using your eyes & soul to fully experience those performances which speak to the Cygnet deep in your Polatis soul … I’d imagine you’ll find that which you seek.<P>I give Stewart Sweeney the thumbs up on the companies he’s mentioned! (again, from an audience perspective). Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Bill T. Jones, and Elisa Monte (is she still around?) are great. Ron Brown’s Evidence Dance Company, The White Oak Project, Ballet Frankfurt, and Complexions (Dwight Rhoden, ex-Ailey, & Desmond Richardson, ex-Ailey & Frankfurt B.) represent what I’d consider a few of THE GREAT modern dance companies primarily because the companies are comprised of <I>(dare I say)</I> <B>THE consummate athletes, artists, and soulful dancers of our time</B>. I’ve seen them all and remember a performance of Ballet Frankfurt in Paris that was flippin’ incredible. In retrospect, I can only defer to the awe-inspiring moments of a performance of Cirque-du-Soleil for comparable grace, beauty, introspection, frightening feats, and momentary transportation of the soul to another realm, as a comparable ‘experience’. My votes are for Complexions and Evidence, because I recognize the sheer artistry and devotion to every facet of a performance, but then, I am biased …

) Whatever your choices, i encourage you to consider the exploration a journey & embrace the unfamiliar and the unknown.<BR><p>[This message has been edited by grace (edited August 09, 2000).]