PS #14: Lost in Translation?

A number of recent Philly performances have brought up questions about what happens when you take a dance form originally seen on the street, in a cafe or in the fields onto a proscenium stage.  “Staged spectacles” of indigenous dance forms have been on the scene for ages now but we still might long for the “real thing.” Similarly, when a piece was site specific and is staged in a different space, how much gets lost? What have you seen that falls in one of these categories and how did you feel about the “translation”?

Share this article

PARTNER CONTENT

Keep Reading

Afrofusion, Bempa’s Way

Zoe Farnsworth

“Untitled” explodes with queer black joy as Bempa gives the audience his own version of a good time.

A black and white bust shot of Bempa looking forwards with a serene and powerful expression. He is black and wears his hair short cut in a fade. His chest juts out forwards proudly in his collared cross hatched shirt.
Photo: Vessel Day

Tango – I Think About It All the Time

Rachel DeForrest Repinz

Tango Therapy Project offers community, connection, and joy.

A group of dancers wearing various multi-colored shirts sit in chairs arranged in a circle in the center of a church meeting room. They are surrounded by intricate stained glass windows, warm wooden flooring, and off-white painted walls. As they sit, they raise their arms above their heads and smile at one another.
Photo: Helio Ha