Mirroring an Exposed World :: Dance Dancing Art Papers

Mirroring an Exposed knowledge baseI recently saw a photography piece, Dancer by Irving Penn on exhibit at the Whitney Museum. The striking thing ab prohibited the photos was not that they were of a nude Alexandra Beller, but that hers is not what one would typically destine of as a naked leaprs body. Shes not tall and thin with exculpated muscles and barely developed breasts. No. Shes fat.Beller as well ask a big risk be nude for Penns camera. She dared people to behold her as a dancer, not provided a fat woman. She dared people to see her as a sex activity symbol, not just a fat woman. She dared people to see her as an emotional woman- sensitive, powerful, frightened, bold, shy, loving, rebellious. She owns her body, and she challenges the audience to own their hesitation and move past it to see her exposed for the woman she actually is.The exhibit made me immediately rum about Beller and her work. Formerly dancing with Bill T. Jones company, Beller is now choreographing her own works. When I heard she would be presenting her latest work, Its non You, Its Me at the Joyce Soho, I got out my umbrella and waited for over an hour in a standby personal line of credit to see her perform.My friends had teased me for wanting to see Bellers show, saying Wouldnt it be weird. I mean you saw her naked, and Do you think shell dance naked too? But that was one of the reasons I wanted to see the show. I really identified with Beller in many ways. I was deeply impressed with her cartel to pose nude in the first place. Obesity, seen as repulsive, is despised at best, yet politely ignored. But Beller will not be ignored. I wondered what it was that gave her this confidence in her body. And I wondered what she would express with her body in her dance works. I was compelled by the risks she had taken with Penn, and compelled to see what else she would risk.When I saw Its Not You, Its Me, particularly the last piece, 50 Ways to Find a Mate, I was bombarded by feelin gs of pain, sadness, confusion that come with rejection, insecurities that are connected with bodies and body images. I got the feeling that Beller, though a beautiful and talented dancer is unflustered an imperfect woman who struggles with her self-confidence, especially in romantic relationships.