'Botanica' blends sound, music, dance
By Sid Smith, Special to the Tribune
Reading this article Maida sent me I remember so clearly auditioning for Pilobolus and then later Momix years ago in NYC. I remember as a dancer not really knowing their work but knowing they were famous and would have a pay check for me. I first auditioned for Pilobolus at ADF and then was asked to join the NYC auditions. It became clear in NYC I wasn't interested. I love this article because it so clearly says what Momix is doing, it is not dancing. It is moving objects around on stage, putting neat costumes on and creating moods, or gardens, but the kinethic experience of whippping and tossing and moving seemlessly through space is not happening on the stage. Nor was it happening at the Pilobolus audition years ago.
I remember as a dancer there feeling betrayed, how could they call themselves a dance company if they aren't actually dancing? Now with this term Dancers as Visual Artists, the title is becoming more true to the content. And this I appreciate. I remember looking at the company members and not understanding how or why they would sacrifice the joy of momentum and kinethetic experience for holding on to another person stiffly or doing an awkward side ways stepping movement. I didn't get the audition, although I got very close for Pilobolus and for Momix, they gave the spot to my roomate. When I asked Momix why they were giving the spot to her instead of me, Momix said, your roomate wanted it more. I guess they were right.
That being said, in this article they spoke of Moses Pendelton's love of farming and his 35 speicies of sunflowers. I too have a field of sunflowers. Maybe out on the farm we would see more eye to eye.
With Momix
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