R. Pikser

 

 

Anabella Lenzu is an Argentinian of Italian extraction who has had companies in Argentina and Italy.  She also has lived and worked in the United States.  The performance on this evening, at the elegant home of the Argentinian Consulate, celebrated the ten-year anniversary of Ms. Lenzu’s United States company.  Although Ms. Lenzu has performed at many venues around New York City, in the evening’s opening remarks she said that she wanted to hold her celebration at the consulate because she feels she is at home there.  And it is a lovely home.

 

The consulate building has inlaid floors, carved moldings, and an ornate glass skylight at the center of the top floor, lighting the curved stairwell, a reminder of the elegance of centuries past.  The space used for the performance was a sort of conference room with a platform at one end, which has been created by removing a wall between two of the elegant consulate rooms.  The surroundings underscored the special atmosphere of the evening, which was a series of excerpts from works of the company’s ten years. 

 

 

 

One of Ms. Lenzu’s major concerns is the expression of emotion, a welcome change from much current choreography.  Perhaps because the performance space was limited, the pieces did not move much through space, but they all had emotional intensity and it was clear that the performers wanted something.  The opening excerpt, dating from 2001, set the tone for much of the movement and the emotional tone for the remainder of the hour and a half evening.  Dominant themes were anger, frustration, trying to be heard, longing, and loss.  Fists beat the air, whether railing at God or at a human who has disappeared or is simply not listening.  Feet kicked and arms reached for something ineffable.  In a rowdy and very funny piece of fans cheering a soccer team, scratching of crotches and other vulgar gestures gave the piece a different, perhaps more vital intensity.  The specificity of the gestures, and the clarity of what gave rise to the emotions made this piece a standout.

 

In general, specificity of what the movements were trying to say could have been greater.  The emotions presented were not false, and each of the five dancers, including Ms. Lenzu, worked hard to find their particular truth in the movement, but were not always able to do so.  Though each performer found one or several moments in which to shine, the gestures did not help them because they were not specific to the different situations.  Thus, the movement was suggestive rather than revelatory. 

 

That said, one must recognize that a review of dance/theater in which the performers are limited in their use of space is unfair.  To write a review of excerpts is also unfair.  An entire piece might well have felt and presented itself totally differently.  As it was, the excerpts suggested a path for the audience without delving into the center of what was at stake. 

 

On the whole, the dancers were enjoyable to watch, and to follow.  There was a little something in the evening for everyone.

 

Anabella Lenzu

October 19^th 2016

The Argentinian Consulate

12 West 56^th Street

New York, NY

Tickets $36-$60

www.AnabellaLenzu.com