The Bunion: A Séance with Pina, George, Isadora, and Ohad
By Emmaly Wiederholt and Maggie Stack
Every choreographer today has a great choreographer they look up to: someone they draw on for inspiration, someone whose legacy they strive to emulate. But what if today’s emerging choreographers could speak to their idols? What do those famous movers and shakers think about today’s dance scene? What does Balanchine really think of twerking?
Well… we threw a séance and found out.
Us: Spirits of Pina Bausch, George Balanchine, Isadora Duncan, and Ohad Naharin, can you hear us?
The table trembles.
They are present.
Us: Balanchine, do you think twerking would work in a reprisal of “Jewels?” You know, let those diamonds glitter a little more?
The table quakes. Some might even say it twerks. We’ll take that as a yes.
Us: Isadora, killer scarf. Can you share your thoughts on the evolution of modern dance?
Stillness. Either she didn’t like the scarf comment or she doesn’t like the evolution of modern dance. Hard to tell.
Us: Pina, are you absolutely pissed that the San Francisco housing market has gotten so insanely expensive?!
Table actually lifts and turns over. Out of the sky falls one single tulip.
Us: Ohad, is the word “gaga” derived from baby talk?
Ohad: Ummm… no. And I’m not dead, for the record.
Us: Oops! So how’d you get here?
Ohad: Since the American dance world has come to see me as a god, I’ve developed special powers.
We blow out the candle and let the spirits rest. As for Ohad, we ask if he’d like a snack.