BWW Reviews: Pauline Koner, American Original

Pauline Koner Centennial Celebration: Remembering a Legend through Dance

by Jennifer Fried

On Friday, May 17, 2015, choreographers, dancers, and dance enthusiasts-old and young-gathered together at the 92nd Street Y to remember the elegant maverick of modern dance, Pauline Koner. The afternoon featured four reconstructions of Koner's choreography, along with a 1949 video of her dancing To complete the celebration, Koner's students, dancers, music composers, and tour managers spoke briefly about her life and the wisdom she passed down to them.

The afternoon opened with the famous 1956 piece, The Shining Dark, performed by 360 Dance Company. Three poised dancers (one with her eyes closed!) executed the number full of slow polished movements. The choreography utilized elements of breath, reverberation, refined hand gestures, and raw expression, all typical of Koner's work. The piece embodied Koner's concern for the human condition as it intellectually explored Helen Keller's anguish, confusion, and awakening.

Next, artists from the Limon Company performed the duet Poeme. Koner and her mentor, Doris Humphrey, along with Jose Limon, founded the Limon Company, making Poeme a suitable choice for this reconstruction. The two artists presented the piece with a quiet elegance, complemented by the prop of a long veil white.

Dancefusion followed, presenting Concertino, a Koner dance the company added to their repertory. Five dancers, utilizing long hairpieces as props, elegantly glided over the stage. The influence of Koner's ballet training with Michel Fokine emerged in this piece full of phrases reminiscent of a ballet adagio.

The climax of the afternoon certainly was the video of Pauline, the lady of the hour, dancing The Moor's Pavane with Lucas Hoving, BetTy Jones and Jose Limon. Koner's beauty, focus, elegance, concentration, and brilliance as a performer were undeniable. The audience gasped for breath as they watched her perform, whether her movement was a graceful and refined leg extension, or a calm and quiet hand gesture. Her strong intention, theatricality, and artistry could not be denied, even in a black and white film from 1949.

The afternoon concluded with an excerpt from Farewell, one of the powerful solos that made Pauline famous. Dancer Janet Pilla thoughtfully danced under a long ribbon stretched diagonally across the stage. The piece represented Koner's famous quotation, "our shimmering memories we take with us, the luminous self we leave to others." Pilla left the audiences yearning for more of Koner's intelligent, dynamic, expressive, and unique work.

The afternoon of distinct works and thoughtful words allowed older members of the dance community to remember their teacher, choreographer, and friend. Young dancers received a lesson in modern dance history from a distinguished performer, teacher, and choreography.

Photo Credit: BWW-Staff

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