how i wish i could dance

     back when i was 19 and dancing in new york, there was one day where the teacher asked all of us to say our all-time favorite choreographer. i honestly didn't have an answer at that point. the company i was taking classes with daily was the jose limon company and as much as i loved dancing in that style, it wasn't my favorite choreography. it was weird because the technique felt so natural on my body. but the actual dances that jose made were often very stark and dramatic and i tended toward the more lighthearted and fun dances. but over the years i got exposed to more and more dance companies and finally found 2 choreographers that i absolutely love.
     jiri kilyian choreographs for the netherlands dance theater, and his work is absolutely brilliant. it defies categorization. it's beautiful in it's combination of grace and strength. it's what i wish ballet was. jiri worked with a guy named nacho duato at some point in time (don't ask me specifics on dance history because i'm not an expert), who ended up choreographing for a company in spain called Compañía Nacional de Danza. nacho's style of choreography is very strongly influenced by jiri kylian, while still having his own spanish flare to it. i think if i had to choose between the two i would have to choose nacho. but i might be influenced by the fact that he has such a fantastic name. nacho duato. 
     now, if i had a different body all together that could actually dance like the women in their dance companies, i would probably dance like that all day everyday. i would work in their companies till my legs fell off. but my back, knees, and hips are a mess. i have very little extension in my back. and while i am much more flexible than the average person, compared to a professional dancer i am stiff with bad feet and limited turnout. the dance world has become extremely competitive and only total freaks of nature can thrive in it. if i could suddenly be one of those freaks i would enjoy dancing these pieces. but since i am stuck with this body i can only enjoy them from the audience. here are some strikingly beautiful dance pieces by my two favorite choreographers with two of the best dance companies in the world.


Jiri Kylian's Petite Mort:

Nacho Duato's Por Vos Muero:

i highly recommend seeing these companies perform live the next time they come to your town.