Dear Friends,

Dance is one of the most beautiful, visceral and expressive art forms. It can also be one of the most intimidating. Viewers often lament “I don’t get it” or “dance is too abstract” or that dance’s embodied form of storytelling doesn’t resonate with our verbal, linear brains. Or finally, “I don’t know how to talk about it.” 

I understand, and over time have found a path that works for me. Most often I approach dance similar as I would a painting. I let the colors, movement, use of light and space wash over me. I also appreciate the physical skill, grace and kinetic impact of the dancers’ movement. I try not to “get it” or guess what the choreographer had in mind, but rather notice how the dance makes me feel, what I think. 

MOMIX is the perfect company with which to experiment with your own comfort with thinking and talking about dance. I invite you to try this yourself while watching the performance. Turn to the person next to you, maybe even not the person you came with and ask some reflective questions.

1. What moments in the performance stuck out to you? Why? 

2. What similar and different shapes did you see?

3. How would you describe the type of movements you saw?  

4. What emotions did you see the dancers express through their movement? What emotions did YOU feel? 

5. How did each piece look and feel similar to and different from each other? 

All of these questions and more can be found in our Raise the Barre Dance Guide

Dance is in all of us. As children, dancing and moving our bodies was freeing and part of how we understood our space in the world. Through Raise the Barre – Ovations’ ongoing commitment to the presentation of contemporary dance coupled with rich engagement opportunities to learn, gather and experience – we invite you to (re)connect with the joy and power of dance. 

Let’s dance!

Aimée M. Petrin
Executive & Artistic Director

MOMIX: Viva Momix
7 PM
Friday, February 7, 2020
Merrill Auditorium, Portland
Click here for tickets