Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers' Show with Sasha Ivanochko

Last evening I attended this performance undeterred by the WCD's caution of nudity and adult themes. It was a wonderful show. Both dances were choreographed by Sasha Ivanochko. The first piece "Gods They Are Dreaming, Gods They Are Awake" is in the words from the program "a series of supported solos that investigate different energy channels of the body, on the pathway from fragmentation to wholeness". I believe this is what the WCD had also written that Ms Ivanochko was "inspired by reading that she has done on the Chakras, which are centres of life force and vital energy in the body from Hindu traditions and beliefs. The choreography plugs metaphysical expression into the tangible, weighted bodies of the performers." Through the performance I really enjoyed the build up through the nattering of the gods, to the torment of the dancers, culminating in a primal scream. This then progressed to a dancer crying and then later laughing. The conlifct was tangible. The sounds from the dancers really added to the essence of the performance. At points I had the sense of the gods nattering and being very difficult on the people. There were some resulting grotesque postures and movements. Towards the end it came around and there was a very primal beat. I struggled to understand what the story of this dance was. but then I finally decided that for me there was not a story - and that's ok. It just was – it was what it was. And what it was, was a pleasurable performance. Quite enjoyable. I enjoyed the second piece "Speak, Love" even more. There were two dancers, one male and one female. From the program notes: "Speak, Love" is framed in the polar literary worlds of Rumi, a 13th century Persian mystic poet and Roland Barthes, a 20th century French literary theorist." I loved the opening: the music, the poetry spoken by two dancers. It very much had an aura of mysticism. But then the imagery really took off for me. I ultimately concluded that for me the piece was a life cycle of a lovers relationship. In one of the initial stages the clothing over the top part of the male dancer enveloped him as he proceeded between her legs from behind and the chairs she was standing on - conjuring for me that he was a condom. Then it switched to a scene that was like a Renaissance dance. She was very active, pulling him along and has the moves were repeated over and over and over he became tired by her activity. Anyone ever felt that way by the activities of their lover? Then the relationship progressed on to a lovers squabble/fight and then a rape. Another powerful image for me was when the two of them went into the same piece of upper body clothing ( his hoody, worn backwards), with her putting her arms down the sleeves. They basically morphed into one being, with the full power and enjoyment of that; after which she performed an ecstatic, active and very orgasmic dance. She then challenged him to speak to her. He responds in gibberish unable to communicate but eventually comes around to say "I love you". What a journey of development of this lovers relationship! Quite an enjoyable evening. Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers are Canada's oldest modern dance company. This was good work and very worth attending.