This was a perfectly lovely, whimsical and amusing evening of dance and story told by Director/Choreographer Lynn Modell with her company of six women: Andrea Blesso, Ann Fonte, Amy Jill, Jillian MacLaughlin, Lonnie Stanton, and Nora Stephens at Lineage Performing Arts Center in Pasadena. Some vignettes focused on everyday scenarios such as waiting to see the doctor, or getting a haircut, while others commented on dieting or manners. All were fun and engaging for the audience.
Lynn Modell/Making Dances – Rhythmic Cuts – Photo courtesy of the company.
In the opening number, “Waiting” we see a woman enter and in a tired and bored manner she puts on her white doctor’s lab coat and opens a “Star” magazine to read about celebrities while the waiting room fills with people displaying various maladies. She continues to ignore all as they grow more restless to be seen. This culminates in amusing histrionics and a revolution in the waiting room.
Lynn Modell/Making Dances – “Congragation Kehilath” – Photo by Olivia Moon Photography.
This was followed by a video interview that Modell did in 1985 called “Interesting Women”. In it she questions a woman who has been diagnosed clinically with ‘no sense of humor’. Ironically this woman is named after Sid Ceasar as her parents thought he was hysterical.
Then there is a scene where a large cake with icing is placed down stage right. A group of women enter from up left and are drawn toward the cake. They are utilizing court dance steps to avoid it but to no avail. At one point a few carrots are produced in order to ward off the evil temptations which the cake provides but it is also fruitless. They succumb to the pull of the dessert.
Lynn Modell/Making Dances – “Interesting Women” – “Liberty Belles” – Photo by Melissa Blackall.
Modell interjects four stories of her attempts to dance at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts in the town of Becket. In each tale her plans are thwarted by circumstances beyond her control. Not only was it not meant to be, but she highlights what happens to so many dancers when their plans for their careers are changed and the path least taken is the one they find themselves on. The last piece on the program was a dance she was supposed to have performed at The Pillow in 2019, but Covid intervened. It was called “Liberty Belles” and follows a group of women who no longer wish to uphold the manners and fashion of the day but choose to be liberated from those constraints. Jacob’s Pillow is a dance opportunity but isn’t necessary in order to define oneself as successful or not in the dance world.
A second interview video of “Interesting Women” from 2023 was shown where Modell questions a female author about her subject matter of divorce. This was funny by the time passed from the first interview to the second, more than three decades, and the volatile reactions of the author to divorce.
Lynn Modell/Making Dances – “Congragation Kehilath” – Photo by Olivia Moon Photography.
The evening concluded with an interview/solo of Modell choreographed by guest artist Janis Brenner where she is told “You are unique, just like everybody else”. Once again letting us know that a little humorous perspective can take us a long way towards acceptance of self, tolerance towards others and a healthy regard for the curves that life throws you. Film by Lawrence Gallagher, Lynn Scornavacca. Lynn Modell/Making Dances was thoughtful and delightful and certainly worth an evening out at the theater.
For more information on Lynn Modell/Making Dances, please visit their website.
To learn more about the Lineage Performing Arts Center, please visit their website.
Written by Brian Fretté for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Lynn Modell/Making Dances – “Interesting Women” – “Liberty Belles” – Photo courtesy of the company.
