Performances: TAKES (Nichole Canuso Dance Company) (Future Performances); Sanctuary (Brian Sanders' JUNK) (Future Performances)

Even though I moved out of Northern Liberties a few months ago, I am always happy for an excuse to return there for an evening. And with two shows at The Hub on Fifth and Fairmount, with an hour to kill in between, I had just enough time to scarf down a quick dinner at The Abbaye. Props to them, as always. The timing was tight, but the food was delicious.

TAKES
I know better than to go to a Nichole Canuso show with any expectations ... other than an expectation of awesome. Her 2008 contribution to the Live Arts Festival, Wandering Alice, was so vibrant and touching that I can still remember it like it was yesterday. One of the clearest memories I have of the performance is the sublime facial expressions of the woman playing Alice ... who, as it turns out, is the choreographer herself. It is rare for a dancer to be so expressive, but Canuso uses it to great effect, in TAKES, as in Alice, telling as much of the story with her face as with her body. TAKES is a gorgeously intimate piece—impressive for a production in a cavernous former warehouse in which Canuso performs a collection of scenes—takes—with Dito Van Reigersberg and a host of projections. Canuso and Van Reigersberg move together well, and separately (with their projections) even better, with some moments so powerful that the audience—encouraged to circle the stage and switch chairs as desired—was visibly awed by the spectacle before them. Performed within the confines of the same translucent cube on which the projections shone (the media installation was designed by Lars Jan), TAKES isn't for everybody, but it was certainly for me.
Festival Rating: While those not interested in modern dance or AV installations might find TAKES challenging, fans of typical Live Arts fare won't be disappointed.

Sanctuary
After the excellent Urban Scuba last year, Brian Sanders' JUNK was going to have to do a lot to impress me. Fortunately, they did. With an array of crazy hair, found objects, and 80s lost (and not-so-lost) hits, Sanctuary is a phenomenal showcase of brawn (on the the dancers' parts) and creativity (on Sanders'). Equally sexy—impressive for a bunch of dancers who begin the show dressed as monks—and silly, Sanctuary features aerialism, fire dancing, feats of strength, acrobatics, and the hottest dude-on-dude action this side of Velvet Goldmine. If you only have the time or budget for one Live Arts show this year, Sanctuary is certainly a safe bet.
Festival Rating: Expect to get wet—and yes, I may just mean that in more ways than one.

Filed in Arts & Events and tagged Brian Sanders, Brian Sanders' JUNK, Dance, dance, Dito Van Reigersberg, fringe festival, LGBT, live arts, Nichole Canuso, Northern Liberties, PLAF10

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