Confession: I am not the biggest dance fan.
 
I love dancing but send me to a show where I need to interpret what people are saying through movement and I have to admit I may be a little puzzled.
When I dance I am not looking for meaning, in fact if my dancing style could be defined it would be "interpretive" and not in a good way.
I literally interpret every word in a song and try to sign it as a movement. It has not yet managed to get me pick up on the d-floor.
But perhaps I need to be a little more subtle. Learn something from these fandangled dancers.
 
I have always struggled with sitting still in a dance performance. How to tell what they are really saying when all i have is a plie and a kick-ball-change.
Back when I was about ten I was taken to Royal New Zealand Ballet's Romeo and Juliet. I famously told my Mum "Why don't they speak? This is boring!!"
She has never let me forget that. But i stand by the fact that a few lines of Shakespeare's would have made the play make more sense.

Tomorrow I turn 21 and am told need to start acting like an adult. What better to bring me into the realm of adulthood but a classy modern ballet.
 
Complexions Contemporary Ballet are here for a second time and I am instantly thinking it is cool because of some previous reviews I have read.
My fave newspaper, New York Times says  "it was like hot molten lava; flowing with undeniable power."
Others describe the physicality of it.
 
Looking at the press pictures I couldn't believe how muscly they are.
You imagine ballet dancers to be petite and pretty.
Perhaps typical of a New Yorker they are toned and powerful, like they could take on a mugger in Central Park ala Jodie "Brave One"Foster.
Hopefully they don't get too carried away with their vigilante behaviour, Jodie is scary!
 
Unlike a traditional ballet, Complexions is using the music of U2, Billie Holliday and Roy Buchanan.
An interesting selection on paper, the director has spoken about the contrast between starting with Chopin and finishing with U2.
Hopefully this will satisfy my need for words in performance or at least get my toes tapping.
 
I am going to opening night (Yay me!) but you can all check it out until the 2nd of October at the Aotea Centre.
 
Details at www.the-edge.co.nz