Pina

Pina

I have seen many previews of this outstanding dance documentary and couldn’t wait for it to open. 12:40 on a Friday before Christmas and the theatre was quite crowded. This film has been in the works for over 20 years. Dancer Pina Bausch was a unique, amazing dancer and choreographer. Unfortunately she died before the film was completed. It almost came to a halt but the dancers felt so strongly that this would be a tribute to such a unique person.
The film is in 3D and it makes for an outstanding performance in every way. This is a dance group like no other. Outstanding! Creative! Emotional! Powerful!
The costumes are often soft clinging dresses that reveal the natural body. In many numbers the men are wearing shirts and trousers.
The dances take place in a variety of locations. Some are filmed in the dance theatre in Germany. Many take place outside, in and under the monorail, parks and on the street.
The dances are challenging and different from any type of dance I have seen. It is amazing to see the dancers walking straight and then fall flat on their face. One dancer stands on a chair, tips it and gracefully lands on the floor. Many of the movements are slow in time but show such control and skill.
Not only do the performers dance (amazingly well) they also mime and act. In 3D it all seems to be right in your face.
Café Muller was Pina’s most famous number. A dancer walks as if in a daze. She is in a café. As she meanders around, another dancer removes chairs from her path.
One number really left me twitching. A female dancer stood absolutely still. A group of men surrounded her and tweaked her nose, tickled her chin, massaged her leg and touched her all over. They lifted her as if she was a piece of fluff.
One dance was performed on the indoor stage. A pile of sand was smoothed over the dance floor and the dancers were dancing in bare feet in the sand. It was so powerful.
Some of the dancers’ spoken words are printed on the screen. I was most interested to see a segment where Pina was dancing. She was the most graceful fluid performer. She also speaks to the dancers and gets them to put their utmost soul into the interpretation of each number.
I have never seen dance like this before. It is masterful.