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Dance Sat Feb 04 2012
Last Minute Plans: The Seldoms
Last Tuesday, the Seldoms rehearsed in a chilly, dark studio in the Visceral Dance Center. The rehearsal was in preparation for This Is Not A Dance Concert, an experimental and new work that kicks off the celebration of the group's 10th anniversary.
Staying true to their avant-garde spirit, this new work challenges traditional notions of performance and performance space, as the Harris Theater for Music and Dance becomes the 2nd performer. Most of the space in the venue is up for grabs, as viewers can witness the group's performers in actions in such non-traditional spaces as the bathrooms, stairs, and the house seats.
Throughout the performance, the audience also participates as they move from piece to piece on a timed schedule. This Is Not A Dance Concert is a meta-narrative about performance, turning actions such as post-performance gossip and finding one's seats into the main show.
Throughout the five scenes, the Seldoms break down the non-performative aspects of a performance, the before and the after, to create a work that promises to be humorous and theatrical. This is performance about the machinations of and aspects within going to the theater. The people may be different, but the act of attending and performing fulfills its own performative roles. This is not merely dance performance, but an amalgamation of different artistic mediums: the stage, the written word, and of course, the choreographed movements of the body.
This Is Not A Dance Concert runs tonight, February 4, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 East Randolph). Performances take place at 7pm, 8:15pm, and 9:30pm. Tickets are $20. Tickets may be purchased through the Harris Theater box office by phone at 312-334-7777 or online at harristheaterchicago.org.
