0 ARTS The Michigan Daily Sunday, April 4, 1982 Page 8 Dancing for masters Records By Tania Blanch W ATCHING Nancy Lanier dance is invigorating. Watching her choreography is equally exciting. The INDIVIDUAL THEATRES 5M Awe ao Liberty7619700 WEDSAT*SUN only $1.50 showsbefore 6:00 p.m. HURRY ENDS SOON! RIHARDC LIW ON THE SUNSET STRIP (R) DAILY-6:55, 8:35, 10:15 SAT, SN 12:15, 1:55, 3:35, 5:15, 6:55, 8:35, 10:15 combination of the two made her graduate thesis dance concert, for a brief but special hour, quite a success. Featuring works by Lanier, as well as guest choreographers Willie Feuer and Alan Lommasson, Friday's perfor- mance at the Dance Building Studio Theatre provided a memorable evening of dance. The program was a well-balanced collection of works. None of the pieces were particularly heavy, and were more often playful, even down-right funny. Case in point: the crowd- pleasing last dance, Elementary, My Dear Watson. In proper Keystone cops style, Lanier sent six Sherlock look- alikes scurring about the stage after; POETRY READING Monday, April 5,8 p.m. Ruthie of the Bat: RUTH BRADLEY opens the season with baseball verse. GUILD HOUSE-802 Monroe 375 N MAPLE 769-1300 argaIn Shows $2.50 Before 3 PME clues, to the great amusement of the audience. Lanier performed only in the pieces choreographed by Lommasson and Feuer. The Feuer dance came in four morsels, interspersed through the program. The movement in Black Bir- ds falling from the edge ghost softly in- to gloomlight (this being the four titles run together to make a "dance senten- ce") was minimal. But Lanier has the presence to carry it off. Lommasson's choreography in the second dance called for quick, liquid movements, which seemed to suit Lanier perfectly. Particularly im- pressive were the leaps and throws in which Lanier literally soared through the air, weightlessly, only to be pulled to earth by Lommasson. The outstanding piece of the evening was Eyes in the Night, which opened the program. Set to jungle-like music by Eberhard Weber, this dance took its inspiration from a Rousseau painting of the same title. As mysterious creatures of the night, the four dancers prowled about the stage, warily, yet assured of their animal prowess. The choreography by Lanier incor- porated very fluid as well as darting movements to recreate theaatmosphere of the jungle - dark, succulent, frightening, and terribly exotic. The lighting, costuming, and makeup were perfect, carrying out the jungle theme without resorting to over-play. Unfor- tunately, Eyes was disappointingly short. Particularly noticeable was Carol Teitelbaum's svelte, panther-like dancing. Her body is well-suited to the flowing, feline regalness demanded by Lanier. As a dancer, Lanier has the strength and grace, moving easily between athletic and lyric styles. As a choreographer, she extends this strength and grace to her dancers. Her dances include a full range of movement, from graceful airborn leaps to angular pench arabesques. Lanier fills the whole stage with dance, building crescendoes and surprising the audience. Watch for her in the future; Lanier is a very promising performer. John Hartford - 'Cata- logue' (Flying Fish) Pick-a-little, talk-a-little (and fiddle- a-little): that's been John Hartford's way of making undeniably enjoyable folk music for over fifteen years now. Now, don't get turned off just because I mentioned "folk music": these aren't family sing-alongs or out-dated Joan Baez "love-in" stuff; these are real tongue-in-cheek beauties. Catalogue is a collection of represen- tative Hartford works, new and old, in- cluding many from back when the singer-guitarist-banjo (ist?)-fiddler was recording for RCA and Warner Brothers. Hartford does everything himself on these tracks, from the foot taps (the percussion alternative) on his Shure 545's to the gutteral imitation of the classic Westinghouse clunker ("Good Old Electric Washing Machine Circa 1943"). His instrumental indulgences are generally quite good, although his fiddling doesn't always quite match his banjo or guitar talents (the violin solo "Kiss My Plywood", however, is worth. a few sessions, if only for the title). It's Hartford's plain yet often witty and endearing lyrics which really makes Dialogue a winner. From "Up On the Hill" ("Where they do the boogie") to "California Earthquake" ("And they say the fault line/Runs right through here"), the singer lets go simply and surely. Not always tongue- in-cheek, either ("Natural to be Gone" is kinda pretty, actually). All in all, a nice album. Makes ya wonder a little why people turned away from the stuff in first place, goin' for that gosh-darned loud electronic rock music. No, really. Nice. -Ben Ticho Frank Zappa-You Are What You Is-Barkin Pumpkin Records Frank Zappa is angry - as usual. Zappa's latest treatise in social angst, You Are What You Is, rips up the planks of '80s America much like his 60's albums did 15 years ago. In the meantime, Zappa's records have become meandering and un- focused with obtuse ravings about sexually oriented poodles. But -You Are What You Is has the straight-from- the-hip focus and power one expects from a talent of Zappa's stature. When Frank routinely intones "Remember, there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over," the fine line between submission and servitude attacks the listener's ears and sensibilities. Of course, Frank manages to spread manure over all sides of the political spectrum using a tight, varied jazz- rock fusion that expands on the Sheik Yerbuti sound. Perhaps it is because of Frank's straightforward focused lyrics, biting to the point of absurdity, that this. album has gotten virtually no radio air play outside of Zappa strongholds in: New York and Connecticut. Perhaps it is because the musical effort, like on all Zappa albums, is daring, intelligent; varied and (surprise!) fun. And maybe it's just because the sapheads who rule radio in Detroit and elsewhere are just more concerned about dollars than about quality. You may never know-unless you listen to You Are What You Is by Frank Zappa. -Scott Stuckal 0 a Awww, Poland's not that bad DEATH TRAP' is Deadly Fun"' -ANN ARBOR NEWS ,, I BIAKf IODWARDS' 4:15 7:00 9:35 Who'll do it? MICHAEL CAINE CHRISTOPHER REEVE DYAN CANNON DEATH By Michael Huget ANY OF MY stereotyped precon- ceptions about living under mar- tial law in Poland were shattered Friday night after a lengthy discussion with Jerzy Wojcik, assistant artistic director for the Mazowsze Dance troupe from Poland. Currently on tour across the United States and scheduled to appear in Detroit this week, the troupe has been met by small bands of protesters at dif- ferent performances. Although Solidarity member Wojcik preferred to discuss the troupe and its much respected and admired director, Mira Ziminska, he did offer some valuable insight into the current Polish' political situation. "After the 15th of January, all the performances 'resumed and the theaters reopened . . . everything is back to normal." But Wojcik did concede that as ar- tists, they are viewed differently in Poland. "We are just artists. What can the people do, we have our own special schools .." The protests have been perplexing for Wojcik. "We don't see anything political in singing 'I love you.' People are protesting outside the theatres, and then put their signs down and come in- side to watch the show. I don't know why some people are 'thinking so strange. "They say we are giving money to the government, but we can't make much of a profit on the road with all the ex- penses. "It isn't a material profit . . . though our songs and dancing we are making the people happy. This is a very human profit." About the protesters, Wojcik added, "Poor people. They do ,what they want-I can't say they can't do it." Mazowsze was formed over 30 years ago in an effort to preserve and celebrate the vastness of the Polish folk tradition. "If it weren't for Madame (Mira Ziminska), many traditions would be lost," said Wojcik. "Poland is not a rich country," he added, "but very rich in culture. We have over 40 theaters in Warsaw, and it takes two to three years to get tickets." The purpose of the troupe is simple, Wojcik explained. "The music and dan- ce should make friends with people. We like to see ourselves making people happy, then we are happy." DAILY-7:15, 9:25 (PG) 4:151'_ _ __ ,SAT, SUN--12:45, 2:55, 7:157 5:05, 7:15, 9:25 9:45 ® Bicycle Jim's Restaurant presents TABLESIDE MAGIC in the hands of STEVE BILLER Every Monday-6:00 PM-9:00 PM THE PUZZLE By Don Rubin We'd like you to identify each of the titles in this inter- national bookcase (da sinistra a destra): TOP ROW: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) BOTTOM ROW: 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) LAST WEEK'S SOLUTION: The correct solution to Cube Route is: 1-6-8-5-13-2-7-12-17 Of course, knowing the answer and experiencing it are two different things. LAST WEEK'S WINNERS: Diane Drutowski Kathy Majeske Subtitles . -'"a i . .. 44 J0 A i E ~ ~ ~ A ~k'QA M .m6ow . a" IT' ... : A L.. a~~V~e"~.C r )moo :hV".t"."..,":.. ..,wfr+.....2"C ",a~~s~r."'."' a~:".,:wi '"':~i.=fsvlI..s I. ".. .$ 41 - {;j r.- "i.;; -9 : i f,"tij,?? ~:!i..,+ S. C .}11 .' . 1S"{ ':."t.} '" t" "t t . 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