I recently saw Pablo Bronstein’s Lobby Minuets at Performa07.
“Within the everyday pedestrian activities of the working city, balletic poses crystallize temporarily, in a sequence of continuously revised tableaux vivants. Bronstein’s combination of languages and styles re-connects the highly specialized tradition of ballet, as it was investigated by Balanchine and his peers uptown some 50 years ago, with the contrasting, simultaneous history of the radical “downtown scene”.
It was quite nice following the dancers around the financial district. It felt very similar to The Situationists’ Derive. While the entire situation was quite engaging and interesting to look at, I felt it was a bit cold. I was hoping the dancers and quixotic nature of the work would add a warmth to the Financial District. However, the performance served to mimic the anonymous and pristine quality of the entire space.
It was, however, quite a feat that the performances actually took place with an audience. Considering the security precautions these buildings have been taking since 9/11, it is amazing that any art is happening in this area (particularly inside buildings).
For a sense of the event, you can see these fotos:
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