Balamouk
Dance Theatre of Harlem
By: Astrid Hiemer - Jul 12, 2019
Balamouk
Choreography: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
A cluster of bodies
Tightly hovering in the fog
And dim light
Slowly moving away from each other
To the beat of a drum
And clicking sounds and song
What Song?
Foreign, yet familiar sounds
Ten of them sharing the stage
Then rushing off
Appearing, re-appearing in fast steps
Alone, with each other alone
Running, jumping, falling, lifting
Pairing in 2-3-4’s
To the beat of the sounds –
The song – what Song?!
Foreign, yet familiar –
My legs move to the beat
As well – in my seat –
Mesmerized!
Finally, Klezmer music
Sounds and words in what language?
Foreign, yet familiar
Dancers still rushing to the beat
The sounds and words, the music
Alone – with each other
Alone in total precision
Until the light is dark
The bodies spent!