Dance: The Other Performing Art

By Cindi Cook

Pilobolus at WHBPAC

The Hamptons is a cultural Mecca, a place where creativity abounds and innumerable artists have made their home. In addition to its long tradition of visual art exhibitions, the Hamptons is home to movie theaters and film premieres, even a world-class film festival, concerts of all kinds and theatrical performances with some of the biggest names in the business. Dance, curiously, has been absent from the artistic pantheon. Until now.

There is a new and increasing crop of work coming and returning to the South Fork, most notably that of Jennifer Muller. A modern dance legend for 30-plus years, and a contemporary of Paul Taylor and Merce Cunningham, Muller has been performing at major venues in New York City and internationally (a venture to China is set for later this fall). Her methodology is a holistic one: Muller's dancers tap into an energy system in the body as their internal source of movement, using the body, more or less, as a living instrument. What's produced is work that is at once fluid, then sharp and startling, yet dear.

A lifelong New Yorker trained at Juilliard, Muller, with sponsorship by Guild Hall, brought her work to East Hampton last summer, where it returns this year on August 16 in a program entitled, "Twilight in the Garden of Hope." Better dancing is hard to find.

As a multidisciplinary cultural institution, Guild Hall brings back dance this summer. ABT II returns to the East End Saturday, August 30, taking advantage of the glorious weather (and the theater's present, necessary renovations) by performing at a private waterfront estate in East Hampton. Billed as a "picnic," audience members can spread out their blankets and to-go containers and take in the classical repertoire. On the docket is Balanchine's Allegro Brillante; a new staging of Raymonda, Marius Petipa's enduring great work and Cake, with choreography by Brian Reeder. ABT II is a troupe of 13 young professional dancers who have been recognized by the larger company as having potential to make it in the very competitive world of dance.

Farther west lies another cultural jewel: the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. This season, PAC presents the modern dance group Pilobolus on August 30. Hard to pronounce but easy to watch, the group is renowned for being indescribable, i.e., incredible. The dance combines movement, costumes and props with almost impossible-to-achieve aerial work and collaborative choreography. Delightfully contortionist, they are not to be missed.

The Watermill Center is known for its unique approach to the arts, a retreat conceived, built, and brought to life 15 years ago by multi-disciplinary artist Robert Wilson. Artists of all kinds, including dance and performance art, come here to have a private place to create and study, uninterrupted, and to further hone their craft. During the year, there are a variety of public events and activities, including open rehearsals performed by visiting artists-in-residence and performance art/movement events. Afterwards, a reception is held where the visitors can meet the performers. Check the website for programming.

If you're interested in nurturing your own creative instincts, The Ross School, that bastion of progressive learning, has dance instruction for the community, classes for all ages, and Dance Arts, the ballet school at the top of the Bridgehampton Community House, is creating little Nureyevs and Fonteyns daily with their excellent instruction.

A little bit country? Take up line dancing and country western dancing at the American Legion Post on Ponquogue Avenue in Hampton Bays. Complete with DJ, the lessons are held each Monday and Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., with Friday night being the time to officially hoot and holler. Show up at 7 p.m., pay your $8 admission, and tap your inner Clint Black. Call 631-728-4340 for information.

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