Martha Graham’s reputation as the patron saint of modern dance rests not only on her stupendous oeuvre but also her convictions about dance. Her most influential belief, arguably, is the idea that dance has a sacramental dimension that can be regarded as an outward sign of an inward practice of vision, faith, and desire—where vision means seeing dance as a way of affirming life through movement, faith means trusting that “wherever a dancer stands, that spot is holy ground,” and desire means exploring sexual tension through a contraction of the pelvis that twists the torso around a pivot point deep in the gut.
Christina Eltvedt, as the Fury Vengeance, has fingers forked like fire, and stupendous gusto. Doing a grapevine shuffle across the stage, arms tightly crossed, forehead tucked to her chest, she conjures one of the most striking portraits of blind rage I’ve ever seen.
Thu-Sat 2/6-2/8, 7 PM Pritzker Pavilion 201 E. Randolphwinifredhaun.org $15
