A night at the Theater

Over the weekend, we attended Shapiro and Smith Dance: Next Steps at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis. The performance was spectacular. The dancers were well rehearsed and their movements athletic and graceful.

The program was divided into three or four vignettes separated by an intermission. The core of the production was the work initially produced by Danial Shapiro and Joanie Smith. Danial Shapiro passed away in 2006 of prostate cancer. Joanie Smith continues the artistic vision of Shapiro and Smith, and her choreography was featured in the production.The second vignette started with the lights low and the dancers in silhouette. When the lights came on, the dancers were nude except for thin, skin-toned underwear. The dance was inspired by the Holocaust, and I interpreted this minimalism as the exposed frailty of humanity during this time. It left an impression.

At the end of the production, a short film of the life of Danial Shapiro was shown. It showed a man who was passionate about his work and who seemed to find every drop of joy each day had to offer. Well done, Danial Shapiro.