The Fredösphere

I had a lot of fun at the Paul Taylor dance concert today, and Der Drubermensch paid attention, so all in all, a success.  This was a one-hour family performance.  I was glad to see lots of quite young kids there, even pre-schoolers.

(And here let me state that I would of course never, ever criticize someone else's parenting decisions, but I saw a boy there about my son's height -- and therefore probably five years old -- who had a pacifier in his mouth.  Unless there's something much more to that story, something very improbable, his parents are lunatics.)

I was surprised and disappointed that the music was not live.  Showing Der 'Mensch the musicians in the pit was an important part of the experience.  Bummer.  Maybe I should have known.

It's odd dance is so unpopular.  Adding a visual element to the music makes for a more diverting performance, even for someone like me who knows next to nothing about dance.  And yet, somehow more people would prefer going to an orchestra concert where the only non-static visual is some middle-aged guy with his back turned to the audience and who has a few too many Hostess cupcakes taped to his thighs. 

Paul Taylor's sense of humor is a saving grace.  Der 'Mensch chuckled all through one solo dance -- and he was supposed to.  I was reminded what Terry Teachout has to say about the humorlessness of an earlier generation of choreographers.  And whaddaya know:  he offers, as a contrast, the lightness of ... Paul Taylor.  I had honestly forgotten that part until I reread it just now.