Winterludes: Journey to a Philly Dance Premiere

Am contemplating a name change: Winterludes instead of January Dances. I like the gray, hard feel of the word January. Winterludes, however, implies dalliances, trysts--the feverish, lascivious, greedy side of winter. There is a sexy side to winter: a yearning to dwell longer in bed, a desire to cling to a warm body under cold sheets.

Desire is a clear aspect of this dance. Our opening trio lies in a clump to start. They slowly roll over each other, covering and uncovering like people sharing a bed. They roll off the bed and a new section begins. They reach their legs to the sky, getting carried away, head over heels. They support each other in the air with loving touch. They tumble and roll, only to fly back up again

The new section, which we shall begin this week, reveals more flying than holding. The dancers will spend a great deal of time in the air. But they will resist rather than support. I envision Amanda and Florencia flying at Alex, trying to get past him, but being redirected: advancing and retreating, flying and falling.

They enact the cycle of desire: grasping followed by losing, breakthrough followed by boundary. Sooner or later, the satisfaction of a desire leads to a new desire. An open door leads to another closed door. So we learn, accessing rooms, discovering our potential.

Finally, meeting an unyielding barrier, Florencia flies off in a different direction. Amanda decides to stay. Cold, she seeks warmth; distressed, comfort. She and Alex will kindle a fire.