Trajal Harrell NYC Premiere: Exhibition Details & Review
– marcusrodriguez
Analysis of Trajal Harrell’s Monkey Off My Back or the Cat’s Meow
Table of Contents
This analysis details key aspects of choreographer Trajal Harrell’s work, Monkey Off My Back or the Cat’s Meow, based on the provided text.
Key Facts
Choreographer: Trajal Harrell, born in Douglas, Georgia. Premiere: North American premiere at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City (september 9-20). Ensemble: Features 17 diverse performers.
Previous Role: Harrell previously served as artistic director of the Schauspielhaus Zürich Dance Ensemble (a five-year tenure, now concluded).
Style: Known for exploring speculative histories and blending contrasting dance styles (voguing, postmodern dance, butoh). Monkey Off My Back… retains runway aesthetics and frequent costume changes but eschews a defined theme.
Audience Reaction: The emphasis on individuality has prompted audience members to request to join the performance.
Inspiration & Advancement
The piece originated from a position of artistic freedom and luxury at the schauspielhaus Zürich. Harrell deliberately “problematized” this freedom, questioning its implications. Key influences included:
The Declaration of Independence: Harrell was struck by the document’s beauty and the risks taken by its authors, while acknowledging its ancient limitations regarding inclusivity.
East Village Characters: Memories of vibrant individuals observed in New York City’s East Village served as inspiration.
Musical Influences: Terre Thaemlitz and Steve Reich.
Visual Art: Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian dress inspired the runway-like floor design.
Movement & Structure
Initial Sections: Harrell initially explored sections based on birds and specific musical pieces. He also envisioned a communal folk dance and an elongated bow. Key Structural Element: The central organizing principle became the continuous circulation of performers on a runway resembling a Mondrian grid. This element ultimately connected the disparate sections.
influences – Timeline
| Influence | Description | Impact on Work |
|—|—|—|
| Declaration of Independence | Reflection on freedom and its limitations. | Meditations on freedom, acknowledging historical exclusions. |
| East Village Characters | Vivid individuals observed in NYC. | Evoked a sense of lost vibrancy and individuality. |
| Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian Dress | Visual inspiration. | Runway-like floor design resembling a Mondrian grid. |
| Terre Thaemlitz & Steve reich | Musical inspiration | Sections of movement based on thier music |