Small Confession about La La La
Posted by Paul Caskey on February 9, 2012OK, if you”ve passed through those lean student times you may sympathise with my predicament… There I am, freshly arrived in Montreal from Vancouver, trying to carve out a little presence in the dance community, cash strapped but very much into seeing every ounce of dance that was exploding off of Montreal”s stages. It was “91 or “92, La La la Human Steps was playing at Place des Arts, and I still hadn”t seen this juggernaut of a company… (I had just missed them a few years earlier in Vancouver when their Human Sex show sold out the Cultch in, like, three seconds flat). While my lean-times wallet said no, my heart resoundingly said yes. What”s a boy to do?
I went to Place des Arts thinking maybe a scalper? A lucky benefactor with an extra ticket? A sneak? I joined the throng looking for opportunity; as luck would have it I found no one with an extra ticket for my viewing pleasure. I did however catch the eye of a couple of others who also seemed to be looking for a crafty way in. I introduced myself in my broken French of the time and lo and behold: one of my new friends had a friend who knew an usher who was going to open that door right over there in a few minutes time, be ready to go, quick it”s open and in we rushed! Up the stair well quick like harried bunnies and POP! out into the upper lobby filled with honest to goodness ticket holders! We were in! Yes!
The tricky part now was finding a place to sit without getting nabbed… the show was close to being sold out! I slowly wandered into the theatre, trying to look casual, peering around for what might announce itself as an open seat. BWOW! In a moment of pre-show hijinx that had the crowd in excited anticipation, a flash of light burst out, a dancer exploded across the stage, and blackjack an electric guitar implored our attention… While I took it in in awe a voice echoed behind me: “Votre billet s”il vous plait” Huh!? Um no, I”m just looking for a friend… “Votre billet s”il vous plait… Um, I don”t understand… Monsieur, if you can”t show me your ticket I”m going to have to ask you to leave“ Busted! Man, I”m getting busted… BWOW!! Another flash of light, another dancer, another searing guitar riff… The audience roared, and I was escorted from the theatre.
I never did get to see Infante c”est destroy after that but did manage to see La La La Human Steps (as an honest to goodness ticket holder!) on other occasions. For those in the know, the experience is always intense: richly visual, intricately woven music and dance that feels breathless in its breakneck pace. While the daredevilry of Édouard Lock”s earlier works has evolved, the stunning force and precision of his choreography, and his dancer”s relentless ability to perform it, remains absolutely captivating.
Halifax is in for a treat come Saturday night! Make sure you have your tickets in hand.
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