For Twin Cities show-goers seeking philosophical heft, next Thursday-Saturday’s performances of John Jasperse Company’s Truth, Revised Histories, Wishful Thinking, and Flat Out Lies will be just the thing. During his stay in the Twin Cities, John Jasperse is leading roundtable discussions on truth and beauty and the role of art in larger society, considering the spectrum of options presented in the title of his work. It reminds me of a drawing in David Byrne’s lovely Arboretum where “Yes” and “No” are connected in a big circle by words progressing either towards the negative or affirmative (“no” leads to “definitely not” progressing eventually to “maybe” and ultimately to “yes”). Some of his drawings from the book are here.
If the larger questions in life bore you, take consolation that “the slinky, crawling bodies are gorgeous” and that there’s humor to spare, according to the L.A. Times. Victoria Looseleaf’s hilarious review said that “Truth is rife with glorious butt-squeezes, rendered flirty and fabulous by Jasperse’s stellar crew”. In a show where “Clothes are shed, leaving the girls topless and guys in thongs”, expect staid dance forms to be equally (delightfully) underrepresented.
MCA Chicago—who partly commissioned Truth, Revised Histories, Wishful Thinking, and Flat Out Lies along with the Walker and others—made a swell little video intro to John Jasperse Company and the show:
I had to laugh at Zachary Whittenburg’s Time Out Chicago review of Truth that “It all succeeds superbly at reeking of failure.” I promise that’s adulation, albeit unusual.
For any interested advance level dancers, John Jasperse is leading a Movement Practice Session ($10) Saturday, May 22 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm in the McGuire Theater.
Up on the Walker Channel now you can hear local choreographer/performer Justin Jones’ interview with John Jasperse, as part of Jones’ Talk Dance podcast series.
shows are at 8 pm each night, with a Q&A after Friday’s show and a SpeakEasy (think book club, only performance-style) discussion after the Saturday night show.
The show will also feature local musicians Michelle Kinney (of Jelloslave), Angelique Gaudette, Melissa Mathews, and Nicholas Gaudette, performing alongside Hahn Rowe (!)
tickets here
Get Walker Reader in your inbox. Sign up to receive first word about our original videos, commissioned essays, curatorial perspectives, and artist interviews.
)