Dance Review: I Clap for the Wolfman

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Reviews

Published on Friday, 13 May 2011 05:00

Written by Elke Weiss

I Clap for the Wolfman
Choreographed by Shannon Gillen
Lighting design by Michael Ingle
Performed by Genna Baroni, Xan Burley, Frances Chiaverini, Janna Diamond, Kristin Swiat

Growing up thinking dance to consisted of ethnic folk and ballet, seeing dance performance was a definite experience. After seeing it, I’m sorry I didn’t see more of them earlier and plan to seek out many more. So kudos to Shannon Gillen for her incredible Clap for the Wolfman, she made a convert out of a skeptic like me.

A modern dance performance, Clap for the Wolfman is a Rorschach test of what you want it to mean for yourself. I see it as an exploration of the human body, and the amazing feats long years of dance training can achieve.

The five dancers leap elegantly, flowing from move to move without hesitation in a way that celebrates pushing oneself to the limits. At certain points, I winced, sure that someone would going to snap in half like a pretzel and amazed at the ease in which they performed such contortions. 

With incredible lighting effects, a little theater with few props seemed to change into various scenes almost instantly. The dancers supply many of the sound effects as they perform a 50 minute piece of modern choreography.

Although dance performance can seem snobbish and intellectual to most people who just want to be entertained, Wolfman is extremely laid back and approachable, everyone looks like they are having a wonderful time and the mood is infectious.

This is likely due to the collaborative effort the show is, with Ms. Gillen applying over ten years of choreography experience and picking magnificent dancers who participated in the progress.

"The show is as much about them, if I had different dancers, it would be an entirely different show," Ms. Gillen said proudly, as she rushed over to congratulate the dancers. It would be rude to single out one of them, as the troupe moved together seamlessly and all deserve equal credit for their amazing skills.

A wonderful way to spend the evening, and one leaves the theatre pretty impressed with the abilities of fellow humans.

Tickets are available online at http://www.shannongillen.com/Site/home.html or at the theatre, 45 minutes before the show begins.

I Clap for the Wolfman
May 12 - 14, 2011

St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery:
Ontological-Hysteric Theater
131 E 10th St
New York City
212-674-8112
Opened May 12, 2011; closes May 14, 2011