If you have been reading the “Lifestyles Report” you know that I’m on a mission to do something that I’ve never done before each month. One month down and 11 to go.
The first event was great. I have been to the venue before—the Byham Theater—and I have seen a version of “Swan Lake,” but never like Dada Masilo’s “Swan Lake.” There was only one show scheduled on Jan. 30 and I was just under the wire in making my “never before” event for the first month. Earlier in the month, I saw an ad in the City Paper for this performance. The Black man in the tutu is what caught my eye. I thought to myself, this looks interesting. My friend Carol Adams knew of my mission to do something I had not done each month and she said she wanted to join me, so we went together. Not only did we see a unique and humorous performance, we met Dada Masilo during the after performance Q and A. What a treat. Masilo was born in Soweto, South Africa, in 1985 and began dancing at age 10. “Swan Lake” is the first ballet she saw at age 12 and she says she loved Tchaikovsky’s music and the tutus. She hoped to be in it one day, but that didn’t happen, so in 2010 she created her own version. She said she wanted it to be more realistic and not a fairy tale.
In 2008, Masilo was awarded the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance. Three commissions from the National Arts Festival resulted in her adaptations of “Romeo and Juliet,” “Carmen’ and “Swan Lake.” The majority of the dancers in her version are from Johannesburg and all but two were people of color. African music is fused into this version and vocals and a sassy narrator who gave us a detailed overview of what was going to happen during the performance and definitions of ballet moves. It was delightful.
Masilo’s version focused on the issue of homophobia in society and how people think that different is bad. She said her version is not about Black, White, pure or evil. It is about freedom of expression and the right to choose who you are and how you live your life, regardless of sexual orientation.
My suggestion to you when you see ads about things that are different is to find a way to go. There is so much going on in Pittsburgh that you don’t have to go to the same old place and do the same old thing. Get out of your comfort zone. Find some places to wear all those pretty clothes that are in your closet.
For February I think I might attend a jazz brunch; I’m not sure this will fulfill the “never before” criteria, but I’m sure it will be fun. Who says I have to limit myself to just one thing per month. I am going to start searching for consignment stores in the tri-state area. Read the “Lifestyles Report” for my new favorites.
(Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)
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