* Photo By Carl Wiedemann
Watching a preview of Breakbone Dance Co.’s datastarve during tech rehearsal, I was impressed with their comments on traditional male/female roles in ballet. Punk rock hawks-as-show horse manes crown their slut-shoe wearing fems, which are barely balanced and manipulated by their butch partners. A nice twist at the gender table, the tough front line engage the “body slam” technique, throwing their bodies around with eyebrow raising acrobatics.
Always a little disgusted by the way ballet destroys women’s bodies (both on and off the stage) I’m happy that Breakbone’s turn in Shirley Mordine’s 800 lb. Gorilla in the Room…(what we’re not talking about) reflects a major dance institution in a critical way without simply relying on disdain. Instead, choreographer Atalee Judy allows her masculine counterparts a chance to risk their own bodies in a fist clenching display of prowess and dare. The term “pointe shoes” has never been more of an oxymoron.
The 800 lb. Gorilla runs from December 13th through 15th
Ruth Page Center for the Arts
1016 N. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL
–Stinky Pinky
Filed under: queer art, queer dance | Tagged: ballet, breakbone dance co, chicago, feminist dance, shirley mordine
