One More for the Road

Modern dance has never been one of my great passions.  Like modern art, I appreciate the extreme talent of the artists who create it, but I've just always preferred the more traditional, classical versions.

Then Twyla Tharp, a modern dance choreographer, decided to create several dance pieces accompanied by Frank Sinatra tunes. My interest was peaked. On top of that, she made the brilliant decision to pursue the incomparable ballet dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov, to perform several of the numbers in this piece.  I was in!

Younger audiences will remember Baryshnikov best from his appearance as Russian artist Aleksandr Petrovski in Sex in the City's last season.  He's the guy who relentlessly pursued Carrie Bradshaw and brought her to Paris in the final episodes.

But us older folk know Mikhail only for his outstanding dancing ability.  In the ballet world, there is still none greater. From his infamous thirteen-pirouette execution in the movie White Knights, to his countless show-stopping appearances with American Ballet Theater in NYC, the man is a legend.

This performance of "One for My Baby" (inconceivably, only HALF of the dance is available!  Doh!!), is perfect.  Twyla wanted to capture the heartache of a drunk, late at night, mourning the loss of a relationship.  Baryshnikov expertly executes the inebriated, loose choreography with precise, extreme control.  Check out, around 2:07,  how he (seemingly) effortlessly comes out of a quadruple pirouette without even placing his second foot on the ground. That's REALLY hard!!

When I watch this piece, I totally GET modern dance.  If this number had been performed in traditional ballet dress, with traditional ballet moves, it never would've captured the raw emotion that Twyla's choreography displays.  I'd really like to know if you agree with me.  Take a look...