There is nothing ordinary about this performance though it seeks to normalize things we might not otherwise see in public spheres. “Public and Private”, as the name suggests, pushes the audience to question and look beyond the superficial. The diverse dancers sprawl the space with moments of intensity and breathes of collective calm.
“Public and Private” is a dance performance by Dumb Instrument Dance company, choreographed by Ziyian Kwan. It is contemporary in its approach and abstract in its portrayal. It has little structure in the traditional sense but there are repeated dance patterns that occur throughout and reveal their significance at the end of the performance. Be warned that there is heightened sensory exposure as the performance includes sounds of a drum, screams from the dancers (which I must admit, as a woman of colour, was very liberating) and partial nudity. All of which one may be sensitive to. All of these elements were incorporated beautifully in the show. “Public and Private” was also staged within the confounds of a small studio space which made the experience more intimate and somehow more visceral because the dancers were within our grasp and yet, not quite.
I want to recommend this show to art lovers who would like to be better acquainted with contemporary and experimental art forms. If this is something you do not particularly enjoy, this show may feel a bit confusing. On the other hand, if you are willing to indulge in your response to a piece that is meant more for feeling rather than understanding, then this is a show that will arouse all your senses.
Get your tickets here!
– Maira Hassan