Monica Bill Barnes is a contemporary American dance company that “brings dance where it does not belong.” Recently they created The Museum Workout which takes place in the Metropolitan Museum of Art before opening hours. Choreographed exercises with a soundtrack ranging from disco to Motown, the team created a new way to spend time in a museum.
In One Night Only (running as long as we can), Ms. Barnes and her long-time collaborator and dance partner, Anna Bass, present an hour long show combining dance and athleticism. It’s artistic sport – the show opens with both on treadmills performing in unison to the Modern English song, “I Melt With You.” During this show, there are spinning competitions and injuries. An announcer commentating on the action: “Barnes chewing back some vomit over there. That can’t taste good.” The end result is a fun diversion even if the overall effect is inconsistent and a little repetitive. Two or three more scenes like the fantastic and stylish bowler hats number would lift this piece from regular season to the playoffs.