Tonight we went to see Ana Laguna and Mikhail Baryshnikov dance.  I confess, I’d never heard of her before as I’m not a huge dance follower.  Baryshnikov was on a poster on my wall for quite some time.

There’s something odd about the concept that Mikhail Baryshnikov is 61 years old.  It’s true, though.  He doesn’t dance like he did when he was 20ish or 30ish.  As one of the pieces pointed out, in fact, when he danced in opposition to a film of himself at… 17?  19?  Still a teenager in looks.  He doesn’t jump that high anymore.  He’s not at the peak of his physical perfection anymore.  Neither is she.  The knee brace said it all.  But…

When a 20 year old dances about longing, tragedy, marital spats, and loss it’s very theatrical.  When a pair of folks 56 and 61 dance it?  It’s totally different.  She’s not a svelte little swan.  He’s not a young stud.  They know whereof they dance, and it showed.  They have the mileage to know how to project those emotions.  They don’t just act them out.  They can project from experience.  It’s a different thing.  It’s a VERY different thing.

Tonight was their last night, on the last day of their tour.  I don’t know if either of them will ever do another one.   I’m incredibly grateful to the friends who gave us their tickets.  It was a true gift to be able to see these two dancers.

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