Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation - The Catherine Wheel

Saw this when PBS first aired way back when, and thought it was the greatest thing I'd ever seen on tv.I was a bit concerned at the start of the dvd because there are old film flecks and so on, but those disappear after it gets going, thankfully.What to say? This is a masterful collaboration of two top talents in their prime. Graphics were cutting edge for the time. I understand why some may dislike the editing, close ups, etc, but this (I assume) is how Twyla wanted it. It is not a stage production. It is a dvd/film. Seems that complaint about not being able to see the whole set all the time could be leveled at any play that is translated to film. Of course dvds were years away from being invented, so the idea of multiple camera angle choices for the viewer wasn't considered. Too bad.The music is outstanding. It is why I got a cassette player. 12" vinyl only had 40 minutes compared to the full score on cassette. There is an Indonesian gamelan flavor to much of it. Bryne is just so darn inventive with his riffs.Perhaps it could have been a little bit shorter. That's why I don't give it 5 stars. Picky picky.All I can say is that if you like seeing intelligent, thoughtful art at the highest level, take a look. I love both Tharp and Bryne and this is a treat. I am so thankful they came out with this. My vhs tape I made just doesn't quite cut it anymore.

The Catherine Wheel is a device used in Medieval torture, hence it's application to late 20th century life. Twyla Tharp's pessimistic assessment of modern family values leads to a wonderful display of modern dancing. Her choreography is a mix of various styles--ballet and modern, danced to a score written by her then-boyfriend David Byrne. The two synthesized an artistic moment so creative that parts are still performed today as "The Golden Section". It is a tremendous contribution to modern dance and this DVD captures the video designed version totally.

A total waste of money. Old dark video with very bad production values. I saw the Miami Ballet version on PBs. This wasn't even close.

A+++

OK, now, just remember I am a guy who simply gets a kick out of ballet but is far too old to do more than use my walker to get over to the tv set to watch my discs. Not so in the days in which I lived in Big Town (starring Edward G. Robinson) and could get over to see every Balanchine piece, not to mention Jerome Robbins and the other considerable talents around then. I seem to have owned this disc for a decade but had no memory of it when I put it on tonight. I agree with those previous critics that the film is difficult to observe and comprehend. Yet it does have an energy, intensity and dancers who grip one and carry one along. Depending on the price you have to pay, rent it first if you can, and give it a try. I intend to return after consuming a dozen or more pieces in my collection, with every expectation of finding "it" much improved over tonight's viewing. In fact, I have found that there is only one way to approach ballet, opera or complex theater works.........the first viewing is simply to get a feel for the dimensions of the object........the second is when you begin to penetrate to its core and details, (and, the third is when you now reintegrate those pieces into a whole............the only point at which comprehension can be expected. (Actually, I learned this paradigm, as applied to art, back when I began visiting NYC museums as a College student, oh, about 1947...........breaking in, of course, with the movies at the Museum of Modern Art).

I originally saw the final movement of The Catherine Wheel, "The Golden Section," performed live by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (arguably the best modern dance group in the world). It was completely far and beyond any contemporary performance i had ever seen. Everyone in the audience was gasping and amazed throughout the piece, and left speechless at the end. The choreography was so powerful and intricate, i had to see it again. So i decided to do some research and buy the DVD.I should have known better than to expect the same experience and amazement from a DVD of 80's dancers compared to a live contemporary Ailey show. I believe that dance as an art form should be seen live, from the audience, with a view of the entire stage at once. Choreography--especially choreography as complex and intricate as Tharp's--is intended to be seen from far enough away that one can see all the dancers at once and still be able to read their facial expressions. Therefore, i understand that attempting to capture something as deep and potent as The Catherine Wheel on video is basically an impossible undertaking, but i was still disappointed with the way it was done for this DVD.I really don't appreciate the prolonged close-ups of individual dancers, or extended shots of half the stage or of one couple at a time, when there are four couples on the stage all dancing different combinations. I also don't see the point of filming the dancers from the waist up. It's like only reading the top halves of the pages in a novel. It just seems to me that whoever was in charge of the cinematography had never been to a dance performance before.Perhaps if i hadn't seen the show live, i wouldn't know what i was missing and i would think it was great. But the camera work on this DVD cuts out a lot of movement, and the technological additions interfere with the overall flow of the work. The piece is plenty abstract in its original form, so the digital interference and lack of full-stage perspective makes the whole thing nearly impossible to understand.As a professional dancer and choreographer, i honestly expected more. I have all respect for Ms. Tharp and her work--seeing "The Golden Section" live was life-changing--but i do not think this DVD does her justice.

If you're a fan of "modern dance", you'll enjoy this highly original production. David Byrne's soundtrack is brilliant.