Dance Review: In and Out of Focus, Molly Shanahan/ Mad Shak, My Name is a Blackbird

My Name is a Blackbird is a piece questioning identity, form and mutation. At the start, the full title is projected on the wall. Later it returns as just My Name is..., suggesting that the blank is a variable, reminding us that the idea of self is constantly changing. In this 50-minute improvisation, or "spontaneous composition" as she calls it, Molly Shanahan follows the continually shifting impulses which define herself in the moment. Regardless, I feel like I am the one doing the shifting. My mind is shifting in and out of focus for the duration of the piece.

Tonight the Joyce Soho Theater is transformed into an intimate space. The seats span the length of the longer wall, allowing more people to be in the front row, and dissolving the proscenium stage feeling the venue usually has. She begins by inviting us to feel comfortable, shift in our seat, or take a sip of water during the performance if necessary, saying that she will notice our actions but not interpret them. Unfortunately her attempt has the opposite effect on me, making me feel more self-conscious and apologetic for taking notes during her performance.

Shanahan has an earthy, natural look. She is barefoot and wearing a costume of layered cut t-shirts and flowy dance pants, much like what someone would wear to a modern class. Apparently she wants to be as comfortable as she invites us to be.

The sound score is comprised of original works by three different composers. Shifts in music style as well as lighting changes are enhanced by the fact that so much of the performance is the same. Details and subtle changes are magnified by the lack of other stimulation, which actually gives certain moments a power that they wouldn't otherwise have.

Her movement, for the most part, follows a continuous path of wavelike phrasing. The experience is like looking out at the ocean. Within this sea of fluid movement, there are little idiosyncrasies. Finger vibrations and foot squiggles are amplified by their fluid surroundings. In this context, stillness is magical. Following a continuous length of full-body movement, she stands still. Her hand on her chest draws focus to her breath, which is not intentionally exaggerated, but the natural result of prolonged physicality. This moment is beautiful. Moments like these grab me, while for much of it, my mind is off on a journey of its own.

Although I appreciate her honesty and generosity, I wonder if I wouldn't prefer Shanahan's previous work, which is craft and theme driven. Much of this free-flowing improvisation serves as a backdrop against which my mind performs its own show. I give Molly Shanahan credit for the prolonged focus and engagement required for a full-length solo performance. I just wish that I had been engaged the whole time too.

Photography by Sandbox Studios Chicago

iDANZ Critix Corner
Official Dance Review by Julie Fotheringham
Performance: Molly Shanahan/ Mad Shak, My Name is a Blackbird
Venue: Joyce SoHo, New York www.iDANZOnline.com

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