‘Slow Dancing’ returns to Southern California -- and it means it

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

In 2007, artist David Michalek took what you reasonably call an expansive approach to dance portraiture. In a project called ‘Slow Dancing,’ he used high-speed video technology to visually capture more than 40 performers from the worlds of ballet, modern dance, flamenco, hip-hop and more, each executing a five-second movement phrase. Then he slowed those video records down so they would last 10 minutes apiece, thus revealing subtleties invisible to the naked eye. And then he arranged to have the results projected on 40-foot-tall screens.

The Times reported on ‘Slow Dancing’ before it made its debut at New York’s Lincoln Center in July 2007. Since then, it’s been seen at the Los Angeles Music Center, at Dartmouth College, in Toronto and in Venice.

Now Southlanders have a second chance to take in this magnus opus by Michalek (the husband, incidentally, of New York City Ballet dancer Wendy Whelan). It will be on view at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on the east side of the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall from dusk until midnight through Oct. 12.

Not coincidentally, Oct. 2-5 marks the second edition of OCPAC’s bargain-priced ($10) ‘Fall for Dance’: two programs, each lasting two days and showcasing selections from half a dozen real live dance companies.

-- Craig Fisher