Although I am just getting to finishing and posting this blog now it has sat for weeks in my drafts.
I had the pleasure a few weeks ago of seeing two very different, yet very great dance shows in one weekend.
The first performance ” Jack in the Box” was from world renowned contemporary company Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal (www.bjmdanse.ca). The performance was two acts, each approximately an hour long, of non-stop, athletic, technically and emotionally demanding dance by this company of elite artists. The intricate and sophisticated composition of the performance coupled with the expression and skill of the dancers left audience members quite literally out of breath, as Chris and I both felt exhausted yet thoroughly satisfied when the final curtain closed. To me this was an artists performance that showcased the awe inspiring athleticism, raw expression, and unfaltering technique professional dancers dedicate to their art.
The second performance I had the opportunity to see was the first Canadian Tour of “So You Think You Can Dance Canada”. To me this show was like the rock concert of dance. Quick paced routines, showcasing a wide variety of crowd pleasing styles, to popular music, all danced by young, passionate dancers. The energy and excitement in the crowd was contagious as popular cast members re-staged favorite numbers from this past season. And I couldn’t help to scream along with my female counter parts when the “well defined” male members of the cast lost their shirts on occasion for the “artistic integrity” of the piece ;) I left the show feeling upbeat, refreshed and ready to “shake my groove thing!” LOL!
Although the performances I viewed that weekend were almost on opposite ends of the dance spectrum they truly showcased for me why I love dance. It requires training our bodies and challenging them by incorporating high levels of endurance, strength and flexibility. A dancer must find the soul of the dance and express that through their body and performance, hoping to deliver commonalities the audience can see and relate too. Dance is not just a challenge of the body but also the mind and spirit. All the dancers I had the honor to watch all shared this joy and passion, they truly danced from the heart!
