Back FTA Montréal: Jell-o Molds, Crucifixes, Sleeping Bags

01.08.2009

Israeli choreographer Yasmeen Godder raised the bar on aesthetic wonder and real-time relevance with Singular SensationIsraeli choreographer Yasmeen Godder raised the bar on aesthetic wonder and real-time relevance with Singular Sensation, a riveting dance for five, distinguished by its high degree of movement invention and refusal of choreographic cliché. At times elegant, at others awkward, Eran Shanny danced an astonishing opening solo: all spasm and kick, grimace and tongue. A collection of nonsensical actions and fake emotions, cheesecake poses and dramatic episodes, the work careened onward: a motley congregation of beautiful losers, love machines, heat seekers, star fuckers. The big impact lay in the mix of convincing individual performances with ecstatic, sensuous play that included a Schneeman-like “Meat Joy” moment-gleeful, collective wallowing in paint balls and Jell-O molds-and a horrific torture scene that had me momentarily looking for the exits. While you were out doing your excellent thing, the dance seems to say, the collective was up to no good.