Big Dance Theater: The Other Here January 22, 2007

As modern dance can sometimes seem abstruse and impenetrable, one of the benefits of the Guggenheim's Works & Process is the presence of a choreographer who gladly demystifies (partly) the scrum of allusions, metaphors, and tricky movements. This exposition might be especially welcome tonight. With a commission from the Japan Society, the Big Dance Theater delves into a world of obscure music, plots, and authors. Set to the Okinawan folk-rock of Shoukichi Kina, inspired by the stories of Japanese novelist Ibisu Masuje, and depicting a roundtable meeting of life-insurance agents, it might leave one on shaky interpretive ground. Luckily, even without the explicit this-means-that, choreographer Annie-B Parson's witty works are accessible, intuitive, and entertaining.

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