Speaking of Dance

By Lori Ortiz
POSTED JANUARY 1, 2008

Five years ago choreographer Neta Pulvermacher and the Flea Theater in Tribeca saw the need for a dialogue between audiences and artists, as well as a stage for choreographers to experiment with new ideas. The result is Dance Conversations @ The Flea, a lively monthly series in which four choreographers present  short excerpts from works-in-progress. Afterwards, there is an open discussion between the artists and the audience, led by a moderator.

During last month’s “conversation,” choreographer John Jasperse led the discussion. “I’m reading it as an improvisation,” he said about a piece by Amanda Waal, who sat on the stage with him. “Maybe this audience is different but I know many think it’s just making things up as you go along.”

“Improvisation gets a bad rap,” Waal said. “I’m interested in how your perception effects my fantasy.”

A dancer in Naomi Goldberg Haas’ work, which features older performers, took issue when an audience member noted the natural expressiveness of the “untrained” dancers. “We’re all trained to move at a very young age,” corrected a dancer from the audience, to a round of applause.

The Flea Theater is at 41 White St. The performances are free and begin at 7 p.m. For a schedule, go to www.theflea.org.

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