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Dance in Santa Monica: 'Tender Demolition' comes to Highways
Photo of Meg Wolfe and Gregory Barnett by Mathu Andersen
Photo of Meg Wolfe and Gregory Barnett by Mathu Andersen
The contrasting title sounds ominous. Artist-run production company Show Box is presenting the premiere of Tender, a new dance by local choreographer Meg Wolfe in collaboration with dancer Gregory Barnett with visiting artist Karen Sherman's Demolition Boy (from Minneapolis). All this is happening at Highways Performance Space this Friday through Sunday nights. Wolfe has been an active and catalytic member of the LA dance community since her arrival here in 2004, premiering new work regularly and initiating scores of performance opportunities for others in her monthly Anatomy Riot showcases. Recipient of a Lester Horton Award for her service to the LA dance scene, her last evening length piece mysteriously de-constructed the film noir genre through dance, video, music and text.
The press release for this new duet includes a simple definition of the work's title and a photo (above) of an an ambiguously intimate moment. Adding the statement "the disaster takes care of everything," we are led into unchartered territory as to the path the work will take. With sound by Aaron Drake, a penchant for quirkiness, a sly sense of humor and an adventurous approach to dance and theater, I can only expect to be surprised.
Similarly, Karen Sherman promises to play dirty with her new solo and what it means to be alone onstage. She says she seeks guidance from Gilbert & George but displays an identification with Tyra Banks. She warns us that Demolition Boy loves dance but wants nothing more to do with it.
I'm not sure where that leaves me, but her credentials are strong (a Bessie award and performances throughout the NY downtown dance world before moving to Minneapolis) and her claim to be a fifth-generation lasso spinner implies that the possibilities are endless.
Bring your chaps and be prepared to yelp and holler!
Meg Wolfe in Thirst (2005)
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