Dance Review - ”Canto Ostinato” - Lucinda Childs

*Precise technique, an atmosphere of light and easiness. - Virtuosity -

But what else?

‘Canto Ostinato’ by the american choreographer Lucinda Childs is exactly what Childs name stands for:  minimalistic movement and a unique way of using patterns and repetition.

I came to see this performance on Friday 17 Feb 2017 in the Stadstheater Arnhem, performed by Introdans. I did not come to this performance with any preconceptions or expectations, so I will try to simply summarize what I saw and experienced that evening.

The piece started with a female and a male dancer at stage, they wear simple grey costumes, standing on a grey dance floor. On the back curtain a single vertical light bar projection was moving from left to right and right to left.

The duet performed classical dance movement patterns, switching to pedestrian walks and coming together for short partnering sequences.

After some minutes a smooth and simple transition brought another female and male dancer onto the stage. Now you could see four people creating clean shapes through minimalistic movement patterns in space using the same movement language  that the first couple used. The light bar at the back curtain got company over time, leading up to having seven light bars moving, “dancing” there own light choreography at the back curtain.

All this was completed by the minimalistic piano music of Simeon ten Holt that created a hovering, flying feeling for the spectator.

If I look back at the whole piece I would say that this piece is definitely  worth seeing for people who enjoy seeing precise technique and simple virtuosity on stage.

For my person it was nothing to make me stand up from my seat since I did not get a lot of inspiration or great feelings seeing this piece.

General information

Choreographer: Lucinda Childs

Composer:                Simeon ten Holt

Company:                 Introdans

Title:                          Canto Ostinato

Date:                         17 Feb 2017

Place:                        Stadstheater Arnhem

Dancers:                    Marc Beaugendre & Verine Bouwman

  Salvatore Castelli & Kim van der Put

Janosch Horn