Car

The Cholmondeleys Car consisted of three pieces: Car Wars, Fifteen Minutes of Fame and Dada Eco-Car. It was performed at various outdoor locations across the UK, in and around a Saab 9000. Each act worked the same way: the car would pull up, the dance would take place, eventually the performers would end up back in the car and drive away. It was extremely cool.

Car's first London outing was on the South Bank outside the Royal Festival Hall, at the weekend. Given the time and location, I don't think it really took anyone much by surprise. Something like 10 months later, it toured again, and this time the London venue was in a square just across from the Lloyds Building, in the busy financial centre of the city. On a weekday lunchtime. That was a lot more startling. Bewildered office-workers gazed down from the windows of the surrounding buildings, or glanced up from their cappucinos on the way back from Pret a Manger, to see a group of bizarrely-dressed women piling out of a car and dancing around.

This latter appearance must have been around the time of Pride 1996, because Ian and I went to see it with the lovely Brandon, who had come from the US to dance with the Marching Boys (among other things). He got involved when he was staying here, and made special trips back at least twice. I haven't seen him for ages, but he's still in email contact from time to time. I keep hoping he'll return for one more parade before we all get tired and call it a day. It's rather a long way to come, though.

Anyway, I just love the whole idea of dance turning up unexpectedly in public places. It adds a bit of magic to the world, and that has to be a good thing.
Posted by matt at December 8, 2003 02:45 PM