Reviews

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

Butoh: Addressing The Discomfort

Caitlin Green

There’s drool, (and lots of it).

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

Friday night rat catchers suck the titties dry

Xander Cobb

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

A dancer with short hair reaches their right arm forward, left arm back with their head bowed down. They stand with their left leg slightly turned out and bent, their right leg extended behind them.
Photo by Jeff Warden

Wake up with a gasp

Megan Mizanty

Foursome Performance plumbs subterranean depths.

In a black and white photograph, two men lean their foreheads into one another while blurry people walk around them.
Photo: Joan Dwiartanto

Off Your Feet

Megan Mizanty

five two dance company sweeps and defies

In a black and white photo, four dances are mid-run. The image is slightly blurred, and they are in different moments of stepping forward and reaching.
Photo: Ella Martin

The multiverse, and a pile of clothes

Megan Mizanty

Ella Sommer Martin leaves fate at our feet

Five dancers rest their cheeks on one another's shoulders in a long, diagonal line. They cup one another's elbows and stare directly into the camera.
Photo by Daniel Sohn

Birdsong and Being

Megan Mizanty

It’s okay to stop and watch the world turn.

three performers wearing plain white or black tanks/tees are mid gesture as if having a family argument. The performer in the front hunches their shoulders, crosses their arms, and has mouth open, perhaps in the middle of a sentence. Behind them, another performer looks to be yelling and pointing at the third performer, a hand on their shoulder, who has eyes closed, a soft smile, and holds their fingertips to the center of their chest.
Photo by Zeze Schorsch

Do something else!

Xander Cobb

room/in/nation tests our agency amidst family dysfunction/nation dysfunction.

Edu Dìaz dressed in an ornate gown with a big white lacy collar stands speaking to the right. Behind them is a bluye projection of what appears to be someone screaming. The projection is framed by a red velvet curtain.
Photo by Ruby Goldner

The Theatre Begs for Exploitation

Nadia Ureña

Her majesty desperately wants us to consume the beast.

A dancer wears a feathered head piece and bright red garment with yellow, orange, black, and white strips of fabrics that dangle as they dance in front of a black backdrop.
Photo: Native Nations Dance Theater

Dancing Afroindigeneity

Caitlin Green

From Africa to Turtle Island and the Caribbean…

Image Description: Five young would-be campers, mostly smiling, with goofy patterned T-shirts standing in socks on a wood floor displaying supportive thumbs up. One dancer is seated, their face framed by a round lavender and white floaty.
Photo: Noel Price-Bracey

A Letter from Fringe Summer Dance Camp

Noel Price-Bracey

Dreaming counselors were modern dancers and me a dance writer.