Dancemakers – Michael Trent’s It’s about time: 60 dances in 60 minutes

reviewed by Paula Citron
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It’s about time: 60 dances in 60 minutes
Dancemakers
Choreographed by Michael Trent with dramaturge Jacob Zimmer and the dancers
Performed by Robert Abubo, Kate Hilliard, Kate Holden, Benjamin Kamino and Steeve Paquet
At the Enwave Theatre until Feb. 14
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Dancemakers’ artistic director Michael Trent, his dancers, and dramaturge Jacob Zimmer have created the cleverly titled It’s about time: 60 dances in 60 minutes to deliberately manipulate perception.

The dancers perform small sequences that they must complete in exactly one minute, and a loud beep signals the minute. The dancers hold up one hand to indicate when they think the minute is over, and for the most part, they are wrong.

The rest of the piece is made up of variations, and this is where It’s about time becomes very intriguing, and at times, downright funny, because the length of time changes human behaviour. The first variation is completing every action in a half minute, followed by performing the tasks in elongated time sequences such as three minutes.

Watching this dance piece is a very entertaining and provocative way to spend exactly one hour.

It’s about time: 60 dances in 60 minutes continues at the Enwave Theatre until Feb. 14.