Between Dance and Theatre

by Henry Hughes
Review of "Self Portrait" as performed by Miro | Dance. Theatre. on May 5th, 2008 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Images courtesy of Miro | Dance. Theatre.

Amanda Miller of Miro Dance Theatre stepped onto a platform in front of the Art After 5 crowd at the PMA last Friday. Immediately, she posed and was hit with the bright light of two overhead projectors. Her feet, nestled in piles of flowers and a few scattered personal effects. Her smiling face glanced over everyone sitting on the steps. She stood, poised and ladylike, hands on her hip, ready to be a star.

What followed was a combination of dance, performance, and video, with a strong element of narrative throughout. Miller’s body contorted between pain and discovery, confusion and enlightenment. Overhead projectors became d.i.y. live video tools; member of Miro used markers on sheets of mylar, painting on Millers body as her hands directed the path of the phantom color.

The narrative followed the life of Frida Kahlo, however, the performance told a story of it’s own. Whether it was based on fact or derived from fiction did not necessarily matter. The performance had on point timing, as well as an ongoing spectacle. Initially, the live animation of the overhead projector had the capacity to be a bit gimmicky and loose its luster by the end. But the Miro troop denied that possibility. As Miller seemingly began to fall apart, a wet brush wiped away the paintings and marks. Paper with small slits projected a bizarre piercing background. At the sound of glass breaking, Miller started flinching as if she was that glass and quick marks of a pen visualized that cracking across her body. Moments like these blended three separate entities into one seamlessly.

Miller turned from naïve to self aware to self destructive, where at times her character seemed to forget she was in front of an audience, then painfully realize it again. It was internal and external, forced and fluid.

Self Portrait, while related to the current Kahlo exhibition, was an interesting choice by the PMA, who commissioned the piece. While jazz, beer, and handsome foods tend to put a glossy finish on the museum and the Art After 5 program, the performance added a necessary a bit of grittiness. Hopefully, there will be more to come.

[Henry Hughes is an artist who haunts around Philadelphia. Miro Dance Theatre's upcoming "Conco De Miro" benefit takes place on May 9th, 2008. Click here for more information.]


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