Dancing on the Fringe

>> Chemistry, tragedy and a little tango

by MARITES CARINO

Fringed out by theatre yet? If so, head on over to the du Maurier Arts dance stage, the Fringe venue that showcases, you guessed it--dance. In nine days, you can take in 10 shows that fuse the disciplines of dance and theatre. This year, half of the shows are local talent, along with offerings from Toronto, Colorado and three acts from Japan.

For the third year in a row, Japanese choreographer Mari Osanai returns to the Fringe. Her previous works were smash hits and described with flattering superlatives. This year, Osanai hopes again to mesmerize audiences with The Remains of Breath, which stems from a Japanese gymnastic method where one visualizes inhaling energy from the earth through the feet. The work incorporates improvisation and has an intriguing "Mature Audiences Only" rating.

Stamped with the same rating is Shakti's Kama Sutra--Book of Love, which attempts to uncover the secrets of love and sex (see article page 29). Another rising-sun counterpart is Kumiko Yamaguchi, whose Body Talk is an "all ages show" that stirs up modern dance and adds a pinch of Japanese influence.

From closer to home, you'll find five Montreal-based Fringe entries. First off, there's a concoction by F. effect production members called A Chemistry Experiment. Here, 17 collaborators brew up a volatile mixture of thoughts and reactions.

Many of the works this year integrate dance and text. Spiral, a Bluemouth Production, weaves movement and sound while exploring the relationship of two sisters who avoid each other and themselves in a nocturnal meeting.

The Body Attacks Word Company makes their second Fringe appearance with Amazon Obsessions--Le corps de Penthesilée, based on a 19th-century tragedy by German playwright Heinrich von Kleist. A sextet of women perform in English, French and German.

Vita Tempus is a first creation by locals Karine Gingras and José Comtois. Gravier (ou lieu de choses graves) by Alexandra Liva and Guillaume Roy-Noiseux, examines the laws of gravity and relationships with live onstage music.

Toronto's sole offering is Si le banc pouvait parler... If the bench could speak, by Compagnie de danse Pied et Soulier. Nathalie Daoust's three-part choreography revolves around a bench, and sews together the tales of two female friends, two older women on a picnic and a homeless woman who calls the bench home.

And lastly, There and Back Again: Tales From Tangoland, is a playful one-woman show by Colorado-based choreographer Margaret Spore. Her protagonist, Meg, tangles with the ubiquitous themes of love and betrayal on the dancefloor. Be warned, it takes two to tango, so don't be surprised if there's audience participation.