DARK MATTER BY CHERISH MENZO AT PS 122, UNDER THE RADAR

 DARK MATTER BY CHERISH MENZO AT PS 122; UNDER THE RADR

REVIEWED BY

BINA SHARIF

The incredibly talented team, creating this unique performance/dance play is based in

Amsterdam/Brussels.

Cherish Menzo alongside her stage dance partner, Camilo Mejia Cortes explores

through the amazing dance movements which are, intense, challenging, aggressive,

frightening and tender at the same time.

These mesmerizing movements explore the reality of the body and it's public perception

as well as it's (afro) futuristic body.

The set has strips of white fabric smudged with black paint which hangs upstage behind

the dancers and is lit in blue color creating the effect of water dancing in the pool.

Their dance and the movements are at times intense and frightening turning abruptly

into intimacy, tenderness and love.

The dancer's silver teeth gleam and creates an out of body experience.

At one point the dancers pour buckets of black paint on the floor and then roll around

almost naked all over the paint creating haunting images of terror and bodily strength.

They twist and turn, run around sometime very close to the audience wearing black boots 

with high heels and incredible strength and confidence.

I have never seen such ferocious dance of intimacy, tension and fear.

It could have been called, "Dance of near death." It certainly keep the audience in awe

and amazement at the same moment.

Brilliant play.