Northrop’s Spotlight Seat
At the beginning of Northrop’s 2017//18 Dance Season, we selected one seat—Row K, Seat 18—to follow throughout the year. We interview the ticket-holder in that seat each show about the performance and their thoughts on Northrop. As you can see from their answers below, Northrop’s Dance Series attracts a varied, engaged and enthusiastic audience.
Your name: Marie Louise Joseph (with friend Laurie Sherman)
Your hometown: Born on St. Paul's East Side, but now live in Little Canada
What you saw at Northrop: ODC/Dance’s boulders and bones; Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Date of performance: Nov. 2, 2017; Jan 27, 2018
What you thought of the performance: I don't do extensive research to pick the performances that I attend: I rely on the initial "wow" factor of seeing a preview or even reading a postcard. I want to feel lost in the art. I want to be impressed. I want to be filled with wonder: How can they do that? What does that color choice represent? How does the tech for that work? ODC/Dance accomplished all of this and more.
Other thoughts about Northrop: I have no fear of "crossing the river" and I love the beauty of the Northrop, the way the staff make you feel special, and I always have my expectations exceeded. When I am watching the professionals on the stage, I am thinking about which of my students might have the same dreams? I returned to my classroom and shared cello music - how does it make you feel? We talked about dancers as athletes - aerobic versus anaerobic? We painted on rocks. As always, the Northrop is very inspiring and this teacher says, "THANK YOU!"
Your name: Jennifer Johnson (with friends Sue Payne and Mary Miller)
Your hometown: Minneapolis
What you saw at Northrop: New York City Ballet Moves
Date of performance: Oct. 28, 2017
What you thought of the performance: We loved the performances! We are always delighted when there is live music, so the piano accompaniments were much appreciated. We were impressed as usual by the quality of the dancing, and the strength and flexibility of the dancers.
Other thoughts about Northrop: Two of us have had season tickets for many years, and we love the way Northrop has been remodeled. The sightlines and seating are so much better, yet the beauty of the building has been retained. We are so happy to have parking at the Church street garage, which allows us easily to park first, then walk to a nearby restaurant (usually Kafe 421) before the performance.
Your name: Stephanie Weiss
Your hometown: Hometown of South St. Paul, but live in West St. Paul
What you saw at Northrop: Malpaso Dance – the 2017-18 season opener
Date of performance: Oct. 10, 2017
What you thought of the performance: The collaboration between Cuba’s Malpaso Dance and Zenon Dance, of Minnesota, was stunning. As a viewer who is not trained in dance, I found myself feeling many emotions throughout the performance. Sometimes I was tickled. Other times elated. I was sorrowful, hopeful, introspective, and heartbroken, too, by the moving pieces and the accompanying music. Watching Osnel Delgado in Ocaso was like watching a daddy-long-legs-cat – Delgado is able to make his small frame sooooo long. He extends so far down his fingers and toes, yet he moves like a cat – light and powerful. Truly stunning.
Other thoughts about Northrop: I haven’t been back to my alma mater for some time – decades. As I watched the season opener, I was reminded of how I love Northrop. The three best performances I’ve ever seen all have been at Northrop: Bonnie Raitt and Lyle Lovett in the 1980s, The Wooster Group’s mind-blowing 1991 production of BRACE UP! (interpretation of Checkhov’s Three Sisters), and now? Malpaso Dance. Thank you, Northrop!