The Girl's Guide to Neighborly Conduct
Relateable.
That's the one word that sums up my experience at the Girl's Guide to Neighborly Conduct, perfomed by Tangle Movement Arts as part of this year's FringeFest.
In a combination between trapeze arts, acrobatics, dance, and theater, it's easy for a story to get lost. But, Tangle Movement Arts clearly narrated their story, not bothering with vague or confusing suggestions that sometimes muddle contemporary dance.
Photo by Michael Ermilio, featuring Maura Kirk, Lee Thompson, Sal Nicolazzo, Kate Aid, and Lauren Rile Smith.
Their story was recognizable, illustrating the intricacies of sharing space with others, and on a more general level, relationships. I watched the audience relate to the joys and frustrations of cohabitation, such as dealing with friends who never pull their own weight, losing your things and yourself in "shared space," and even the perils of falling in love.
The show was presented in twelve short vignettes, and each represented one tip in "The Girl's Guide to Neighborly Conduct." Suprisingly, some of my favorite moments in the show came in between these vignettes, when the lights were dimmed, and cast crisp sillhouettes of the dancers dangling from ropes, hoops or cascading fabric, and I sat in anticipation of the next performance.
The most touching vignette was called "Find A Partner," dancing by Lee Thompson and Sal Nicolazzo. Falling for one another, they manuevered their bodies around one hoop that was suspended in the air by two ropes. They navigated around and into one another, ocassionally pausing to look into each other's eyes, the way love feels in the beginning. Later in the show, in the piece titled "Real Relationships Take Work," Thompson and Nicolazzo repeated a similar routine. They mirrored the same movements they had during their first, loving "Find A Partner" routine, but this time, with exasperated, troubled expressions, fighting with one another and themselves, the way love inevitably feels when we're in it for the long haul.
Another touching piece was Maura Kirk's solo, "Take Time For Yourself," in which she wrapped herself up in hanging fabric, travelling up and down the dance floor instead of left and right, or forward and backwards. Her grace, strength, and the soft music, made for a beautiful performance.
We could all relate to the actions, the feelings, the power of friendship and the ups and the downs of any relationship. Throughout the show, I saw audience members smile thougtfully, laugh, and nod their heads as they recognized moments from their own lives being played out on stage.
Relatable.
