George Piper Dances 'Steptext' reviews George Piper Dances 'Mesmerics' reviews George Piper Dances 'Torsion' reviews Nunn in reviews Trevitt in reviews recent George Piper Dances reviews more monkeysraincoat reviews

The Ballet Boyz/George Piper Dances were in Washington, DC for just a couple of days, but this town will never be the same….at least for myself, and judging by the rousing applause, shouts, cheers, whistles, and immediate standing ovation at the end of the performance, for many other Washingtonians as well.

I feel woefully inadequate to even review their programme because they left me speechless and with only the ability to utter superlatives. Brilliant, powerful, spellbinding, inspired, uncompromising, passionate, edgy, provocative, absorbing.....and then there is the flawless precision, electrifying intensity, amazing balance, exceptional technique, and quiet but gripping strength…..along with the commanding use of the body which is extolled in many different ways as it is pushed, pulled, draped, molded, extended, elevated, assaulted, caressed, entangled, wielded, and redefined in a way so extraordinary and captivating that it gives you a renewed appreciation not just of the power of dance, dancers, and choreographers, but of the human body, spirit and mind as a creative force as well.

The choreography of Forsyth (Steptext), Wheeldon (Mesmerics) and Maliphant (Torsion) fit like a glove to GPD. They compliment each other in a compelling manner and bring out the strengths on both sides. Maybe because it felt like I’d waited a lifetime to see Torsion (having read so many reviews, heard so much about it, and seen clips), perhaps that is why that work just barely edged out the other two as my favorite. Michael and Billy are so utterly astonishing with a symbiotic relationship that is both intensely masculine and yet incredibly sensual to watch. I’m wondering if like myself, anyone else remembered to breath during that entire piece. As they say, quite simply, it was a thing of beauty.

And I cannot end this gushing tribute without bringing up the video clips. They were, as I imagine they are everywhere, a tremendous hit. We’re not talking chuckles here and there either. We’re talking comedy club level laughter for the madcap adventures brought out on film and used to introduce each piece. It really was good to have the humor and time to decompress after the awe inspiring performances which left us all a little stunned and breathless. The crowd particularly enjoyed Michael’s impersonation of a correspondent (complete with goofy wetted down, parted at the side journalist's hairdo) reporting live from the White House, attempting to uncover the scandal and mystery of exactly who George Piper was and did he indeed even exist. Every clip was so joyous and lighthearted and such a great way to find out that these exotic creatures known as dancers, are really just regular people.

I know I am not the best at writing reviews on dance, but hopefully I conveyed at least a little of what it was like to be a part of the GPD experience this particular evening. I brought two friends who have not been to a dance performance in many, many years simply because it doesn’t interest them. I basically twisted their arms. And you know what? Yep, you guessed it. They are now Boyz crazy too.

More power to GPD. Their time is here and aren’t we all lucky to be able to be a part of it?