<P>09.26.01 Review<BR>Trisha Brown Dance Company [USA] <BR><I>El Trilogy</I> <BR>Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts <BR>Festival International de Nouvelle Danse<P>Choreography : Trisha Brown <P>Performed by : Kathleen Fisher, Sandra Grinberg, Mariah Maloney, Brandi Norton, Seth Parker, Lionel Popkin, Stacy Matthew Spence, Todd Stone, Katrina Thompson, Abigail Yager <P>Music : Dave Douglas <P><BR>The Trish Brown Company opened their performance at the FIND with a solo from Claudio Monteverdi's opera <I>L'Orfeo</I>. It was a poignant and touching tribute to those who were lost or injured in the tragedy of September the 11th. Kathleen Fisher, as the messenger, danced a sombre reflection of the intense grief that has enveloped so many people. This solo was a heart-rending testament to the events that have so deeply affected us all. <P>Brown's <I>El Trilogy</I> seems like an answer to those who might be struggling to find moments of light after the dark days of the past few weeks. Her choreography is such a joyous and bright expression of how wonderful life can be. Dave Douglas' jazz score throws extra sparkles into the mix. The light-hearted mood is just so…American. The fresh-faced dancers, costumed in bright colours, move in a carefree style that is soft but articulate. They seem so wholesome; you can almost picture them drinking milk and eating oreo cookies after the show (a recent trend in NYC was after-hours milk and cookie bars). It's hard not to love them. <P><I>Five Part Weather Invention</I> is a lot like the scribbles that cover the horizontal lines of the projection on the back wall. It's as if Brown is doodling with the dancers. A big swoosh here, a sharp line there. It's abstraction at its best, non-committal and unrestrained. The "follow the leader" section is playful improvisation that is reminiscent of a 1970's video using motion trails. <P><I>Rapture to Leon James</I> was probably my least favourite part of <I>El Trilogy</I>. Maybe it's because I find little to relate to in a picture of Americana that is well before my time. This flashback to a happier era references the lindy-hop, with little wrist flicks and swinging circle skirts. It was sweet and saucy. One of the dancers receives a kiss during the piece, a gentle reminder of the innocence we have lost. <P><I>Groove and Countermove</I> closed the show. The unpredictable moments: dancers falling and the audience realizing, to their delight, that the falls are choreographed, are what give this work its charm. It's loose-limbed and fancy-free with another kiss for good measure. Brown's dancers move in endless patterns that shift direction and intention at the drop of a hat. <P>The solo dances that occur during the two set changes were an interesting twist to the show. The first is angular and intense and it resulted in the audience errupting into applause at its finish. The second is a slow meander from position to position on an aluminium ladder, with long pauses from which to coolly observe the audience. <P><I>El Trilogy</I> is optimistic and heartening. It's the kind of dance a lot people need to see right now. <P><p>[This message has been edited by Marie (edited September 27, 2001).]
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<P>Trisha Brown's <I>El Trilogy</I><P><A HREF="http://www.festivalnouvelledanse.ca/video_56k/eltrilogy.mov" TARGET=_blank><B>video excerpt 56k</B></A><BR><A HREF="http://www.festivalnouvelledanse.ca/video_dsl/eltrilogyDSL.mov" TARGET=_blank><B>video excerpt DSL</B></A><BR><p>[This message has been edited by Marie (edited June 01, 2002).]