What I saw last night. Balkan Express at Dixon Place. 
A trio of choreographers from the Balkans present an evening of work. This is my favorite venue not only because it has a bar but also because you are allowed to bring your drinks to your seats.
The first piece was by Ivo Dimchev who I just saw last in March. A completely different work by him although it does involve cutting himself and having blood trail down his face and the previous show had him drawing blood with a needle. Always a powerful image to bleed for your art but everything that led up to it was successful as well. Fave parts included reciting the lyrics to Kenny Rodgers “The Gambler” and pleading/screaming at his porcelain cat to please eat. You kind of need to be there.
Second piece was a straight forward solo dance performed by Ursula Eagle. She made her hands look like hooves and wore a slip dress.
The final piece was a folly. Five people sit in chairs facing the audience and stare at them/us. They go on to mumble to each other and point at people in the crowd. The reality is that the majority of the crowd is made up of artists, choreographers, presenters etc. They are very jaded about this kind of work which is overly literal. In no time things became confrontational as the audience members started pointing out some of the obvious elements of attempting to turn the tables on the viewer. At one point a film is projected of the audience which I have seen done before more successfully only with dogs as the performers and the audience being filmed looking agitated as they feel they are being hoodwinked. Well having drinks helped on this night.
Elements: chairs, desk, keyboard, painting, porcelain cat, talking, singing, blood, spit, wigs
Title: “Som Faves” by Ivo Dimchev “It” by Iskra Sukarova “I Am Always Watching You” by Viktorija Ilioska
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