Letter to the Editor: Message from Steve (Paxton) about Bob (Ashley)

Thank you, Megan. I gather your “Dust” is still accumulating, and I wish you all the best with it. Ashley had the odd talent of remaining still as his music and text swirled. It was excellent to dance to “Private Parts” for 30 years. It is a woven story of delicious language, but when I hear it now, I recognize its flavor. Not mood or musicality or prosidy or poetry or orchestration or structure, but something fundamental and immediate and only his. A crankiness developed for the entertainment of those of us who can appreciate crankiness. I think you caught him well in this appreciation, especially the use of the woman’s thoughts with which you end. The final innocuous question morphs into the fundamental question with his departure, and so his texts worked; his voice was the most casual drawl of current philosophers/mystics/sages. Whatever. — Steve Paxton

Share this article

PARTNER CONTENT

Keep Reading

  • Reviews

Butoh: Addressing The Discomfort

Caitlin Green

There’s drool, (and lots of it).

A maroon graphic says “Philadelphia Butoh Collective” in white bold font. Below the words there’s a black emblem with an image of a person sitting on the ground with one foot and their arms raised in the air. Red lettering overlays the image and also reads “Philadelphia Butoh Collective. To the right, lining the border, there are duplicate images of two people in motion. One is bent over from the waist with arms hanging to the ground, and the other stands with bent knees, hinging slightly backward with one arm outstretched and the other folded over their torso. To the far left border, vertical lettering reads “two new pieces” in black, bold font.
Photo: Philadelphia Butoh Collective
  • Reviews

Friday night rat catchers suck the titties dry

Xander Cobb

Lisa & Lena’s dance theater extravaganza is disgusting and impeccable.

On a dark smokey stage littered with fruit loops and rocks, two dancers whip their hair forward from a wide second position plie (legs wide, turned out, and bent), their hands smacking their thighs. The dancers are dressed like it’s the 70s and they’re going to the club: one in an orange halter jumpsuit with sparkly fringe, the other wearing tall silver heeled boots, purple booty shorts, and a fluorescent green shirt with flared sleeves.
Photo: Maria Baranova