GAYLETTER

The Emergency Glitter guide indicates that it’s experimental theatre; perhaps that’s not enough. It’s an intellectually activating, intense, aggressively raw, sexually charged, hilarious, dark exploration of the human form and the wonderfully engaging movements that humans can achieve through dance and art. But yes — this is a piece of experimental theatre that is being presented by Festival TBD.

The piece to which I am referring is Gillian Walsh’s ‘Grinding & Equations: Two Duets at Abrons.’ It begins with Gillian Walsh and Robert Maynard tangled up in some weird crab walk like position that is hard to illustrate with only words. The two then proceed to thrust forcing the ‘bottom’, if you will, up into the air and then back again which effectively generates that horrid flesh slapping noise that I do my best to avoid in sex — there is no music at this point, just an intensive silence that pierces your ears. Another couple of dancers, Mickey Mahar and Maggie Cloud, are circulating the room and making movements that fall in and out of sync. The performance moves into many different parts each just as interesting as the one prior. There is something like an academic/analytical twerk involved, there is also the blaring voice of Nicki Minaj proclaiming that she “supports this message” on loop toward the end.

Gillian Walsh is amazing — so is her hair. Please go see her.

Festival TBD: Emergency Glitter is series of summer dance/art performances that is centered on the idea of supporting the artists. So often there are art events that end up being about the event and spectacle of art — Festival TBD doesn’t engage in that bullshit, this an authentic and humble festival that exposes real talents.

For more information about Festival TBD: Emergency Glitter and tickets click here.

$15, Saturday, July 27^th, 5:30PM, Abrons Art Center, 466 Grand St. NY, NY.