November 26, 2003
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Show review
Chinese dance
The Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company blends traditional Chinese dance with modern dance. This style of dance didn't have some of the elements I enjoy about traditional Chinese dance -- precise handling of props, blatant coyness, feminine gracefulness -- but it was good to see something different. During the video highlights of Lily Cai's dance company, which showed some traditional dances, I could imagine that after seeing enough traditonal dance performances a modern take would be refreshing. My favorite parts were: the part when the dancers stood up on columns and waved extra-long ribbons, and the "Bamboo Girls" dance in which the dancers exuded an unmistakable sensuality.hip hop
The SF Hip Hop Dancefest was off the heazy! Fo shizzle! It had the best breakdancing I've ever seen, best popping, and excellent choreography and staging and lighting. My favorite part was the end of the Breakbeat Assassins routine. They had four guys on the stage, frozen in different poses. The narrator would say "...and locking came from New York in the 70's" (or something like that), and a spotlight would shine on one guy who would demonstrate locking. I finally found out what rocking, locking, and popping were. And the breakdancing I saw that night -- specifically the spinning-on-head parts -- would have Newton turning over in his grave because there was some definite defying of laws of physics going on. Newtonian physics, special relativity, general relativity, breakdanceativity.taiko
I also saw San Francisco Taiko Dojo celebrate their 35th anniversary. For those of you who don't know, taiko is Japanese drumming. I was struck by how graceful some of the drumming was. I can't wait to see this in Japan. I have never seen the audience get so involved at a non-concert show. During the finale, the audience (and the performers) was cheering along the various soloists.
Needless to say, I'm grateful to live in an area where I can experience so many different things.The Lily Cai show was the 15th anniversary, the hip hop the 5th, and the taiko the 35th. Is 2003 a lucky year, or are people rounding to 5? Hmm...
Comments (4)
you should say off the heazy more. ha.
Hey Melissa, it's Eric (from LB--the plane dude). Haha. Just stumbled upon your xanga and wanted to say hi. Hope all is well!
taiko is the coolest thing in the world.
Hey Melissa! This is Cat Tran from MBHS. Saw your comment on Kel's site. Anyway, I saw that same Taiko performance/show at Zellerbach Theatre in 2002. It was awesome! Hope all is well with you and yours.
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