![\"Syzygy.](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/RL2_03471.jpg\")
<\/a>Syzygy. Photo by Rob Latour for The Wallis, as is the big one at the top of this page, which features the dance “Esplanade.”<\/p><\/div>\n
I\u2019ve known of the Paul Taylor Dance Company my entire life, but, to even my<\/em> surprise, I had never seen them perform before. \u00a0So I was very pleased by the spunkiness of their trio of classic numbers from Paul Taylor\u2019s half-century repertoire that were featured in this show. (He created all three between 1975 and 1998.) I was thrilled that there was none of the usual heaviness that is the hallmark of many old school modern dance troupes, such as this one. There was no \u201crope pulling,\u201d nor dragging someone behind, while plodding along. All the choreography and performances I saw that night were a pure delight.<\/p>\n Syzygy. Photo by Rob Latour for The Wallis.<\/p><\/div>\n While I do prefer dances that have a story, (such as classical ballets do, and the majority of numbers on So You Think You Can Dance<\/em> do, as well,) I really enjoyed all of these. There may actually be<\/em> stories to the Paul Taylor-choreographed ones offered at the Wallis, but they weren\u2019t listed in the program, so I didn\u2019t have a clue of what was going on. (And I don\u2019t like being kept in the dark about what the movements mean because they always seem so important.) But the steps and dancers were so engaging that I just went with the flow.<\/p>\n The first number, Syzygy<\/em>, was very carefree, and Phoebe-esque. (You Friends<\/em> fans know just what I mean.)\u00a0 I loved the happy, constant movement. There was not even a nano-second of stagnancy.<\/p>\n The Word. Photo by Rob Latour for The Wallis.<\/p><\/div>\n The second number, The Word<\/em>, proved that these are not just dancers<\/em>, but athletes<\/em>, as well. Maybe even moreso! And I loved the costumes for this one, especially the pliable dance boots. They reminded me of the ones I used to wear to the dance clubs I ran back in the day. I guess my attire was ahead of its time, (although I\u2019d love to get my hands on a pair of the ones from the show, just to wear around town! But they can keep the knickers.)<\/p>\n The Word. Photo by Rob Latour for The Wallis.<\/p><\/div>\n Speaking of wardrobe, it was all designed by the world-class Santo Loquasto, who has designed not only costumes<\/em> in his prolific career, but sets and entire productions<\/em> as well, including most of Woody Allen\u2019s films. But, even though, as I said, I\u2019m a fan of the German schoolboy-type of attire from The Word,<\/em> (but not so much of the nude bodysuit on one girl, complete with obvious red nipples, which was a bit weird,) the costumes from the other two numbers reminded me of a story my mother loved to share with everyone. Growing up in Brooklyn, she took me to see tons of dance shows all over New York City. Many were local companies, who had little to no budget, so it followed that most of their wardrobe was a tad, how shall I say, shoddy. The first time I saw one such show when I was very young, (and used to seeing famous<\/em> dance troupes, even at that early age,) I was surprised by the thrift shop-looking attire, and asked my mother, (way too loudly,) \u201cWhy are they wearing schmattas???\u201d She was mortified, as I am even thinking about that episode! But, sadly, that\u2019s what Santo Loquasto\u2019s designs looked liked in two thirds of this performance. It didn\u2019t matter even one little whit, though\u2014I was just a bit surprised, as I was all those years ago.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>