Festival Review: Momix Dance Company

[Written by Rajai Denbrook and Rennika Trott]

What can you say when you encounter the utterly unreal? What can you say when you experience a piece of performance art that’s so lacking in ego that you can’t help to feel a a part of it and the life, the relentless, tenacious life, it is celebrating?

In so many ways beautifully transgressive and oozing with effervescent ingenuity and spirit, MOMIX’s dance theatre piece “Botanica” was a non-stop, uncompromising exploration of what these reviewers are now calling “a year in the secret life of nature”.

Beginning with the serenity of a desolate Winter blossoming into Spring, Summer storming into autumn and Winter claiming the landscape, succumbing life once again, MOMIX’s inspiring interpretations of the seasons with not just dynamically fragile movement, but also with ambitious theatricality from the use of puppets to exceptionally clever and effective use of set pieces, served as a reminder of the natural beauty and miracles that surround us everyday.

The surprises never stopped, which forced these reviewers to simply sit back, suspend their disbelief entirely, and realize their place within this epic story that was being told.

Of note was the second piece, a profound and wonderfully ominous interpretation of the Greek myth of Persephone.

There laid upon an angled glass surface was Persephone, her ethereal movements captivating within themselves, but amplified by the effect her mirrored self created as she moved on the surface.

Then, withdrawing into the earth as if Hades was pulling her back, she mingled with the bones beneath her, like those of a triceratops, to help life Spring forth once again.

Then Spring came, full of life, full of grace, full of ingenuity from the company, then a storming Summer, with the company actually managing to create the feel of a storm on stage with simply two long pieces of fabric on poles and their bodies, followed by one of the most original movement and theatrical interpretations of a rain-beaded web.

Also of note, was the company’s interpretation of Fall, that rang with an inFallible sense of truth.

With crimson and gold tinged branches gathering to prepare for Winter to return to claim its time, the company flawlessly and profoundly created a courageous mood between themselves for their interpretation of Fall, a powerful mood as if the season was saying “remember me”, completely aware of the inevitability of its impending end, but also of its inevitable return and beauty therein.

Then a return to the beginning image of the piece and another year in the secret life of nature and the subtle epics that create it.

Momix’s official “Botanica” preview video:

Of course the company had to to treat the audience to an encore, showing that they were more than capable of just having some good old fashioned fun, but somehow not at the expense of their characteristic creativity, with their energetic, enthusiastic and playful interpretation of a Solar Flare.

A massive congratulations and in fact thank-you to the entire crew who brought Botanica to life as the evening ended with these reviewers feeling grateful for the wonderful reminder MOMIX’s piece was of the miraculous processes of life that we’re all a part of.

You can catch Botanica today at Ruth Seaton James Auditorium.

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Category: All, Entertainment