Review: MICHAEL HELLAND Ribbon Dances at Performance Mix Festival

Performance Mix Festival returned to Abrons Art Center for its 30th Anniversary on June 6th, 2016. Founded in 1986 by curator Karen Bernard and presented by New Dance Alliance, this platform for experimentation and risk-taking has stood at the vanguard of showcasing established and emerging artists of a decidedly offbeat slant since its inception. Opening night's 8 pm performance - some days have a 7 pm and 8 pm performance - featured Brussells-based dance artist Michael Helland's site responsive installation "RECESS: The Ritual Experience Concept Event Spa Show".

Thus far I have been repeating details straight from the press release because like so much of this experimental art there is not much "there" there. For instance, the phrase "dance-artist"; what does it mean? If you attend a show created by a dance artist do you expect to experience more dance than speaking? If you expected that at this talk heavy show you would have been sorely disappointed. Of course this raises the question: "What is Dance?" For my purposes as a dance reviewer I would define a dance performance as an event that relies primarily on movement to communicate. In this performance, Mr. Helland - attired in a spa robe complete with a hoody, toes painted in black nail polish, and flip flops - relied primarily upon a casually snarky persona taken with making glib pronouncements. We've all met this type of character before. A man who is profound in his vapidity and unable to stop talking about what makes him feel special. What made this character special was his penchant for ribbon dancing and experimenting with ribbons until he found one that suited his specific needs. He even named them, rejected ribbons and all. These ribbons facilitated his search for flow. That was how the audience discovered Mr. Helland as it entered the Underground Theatre at Abrons; ribbon dancing in search of flow.

Mr. Helland: "I'm just looking for flow. You know flow? It's like this kinda state of being. (You) kinda forget what you're doing but it's still happening. It's not a new concept. It's been around since before my time. Before your time too."

It was that kind of speech. After demonstrating the different exercises and techniques he enjoyed practicing, Mr. Helland announced that the lights would go out and that he would disappear. The conceit behind this performance was that we were at a spa. I suppose that Mr. Helland was our not-so-gracious host. Part of that hosting included returning to dance in the nude while hidden behind a white sheet with his hair down. You could not tell in the hoody, but Mr. Helland possesses long and voluminous locks of hair. During this dance, he struck poses that were sometimes lovely though primarily derivative of what Martha Graham did with stretch material. After disappearing and reappearing again - thankfully clothed - Mr. Helland regaled us with other observations before inviting audience members to join him in the performance space. Those who joined were instructed to form and circle and to count 3-2-1 in repetition against a recording of rhythmic drumming. After disappearing and returning - this time dressed only in a dance belt - Mr. Helland proceeded to strike poses that were more ritualistic this time around while rotating in quarter turns with each pose change. The lights faded to blackout one final time during which the audience was wished a restorative time. When the lights returned Mr. Helland was gone. How was it? My audience neighbor put it best, "Now I'm ready for a snooze." Restorative? Ask me tomorrow. Subversive? Sure. Relaxing to the point of sleep inducing? Isn't that why one goes to a spa?

Performance Mix Festival continues through June 11th, 2016. Each program is decidedly different in scope and style. For more information, visit abronsartcenter.org

Photo Credit: David Gonsier

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