Metal Jew

Gay metal rumour

Whilst I am concerned not to post lashon hara on this blog, the comments on a recent post on Invisible Oranges publish an interesting rumour about a possibly gay member of a prominent death metal band. I can't substantiate it, but it seems to me that the necessity of making life easier for gay metallers - who are by and large hidden - seems to override the risks in 'outing' someone in this way.

I wish this were a real advert...

[hat tip Robert Popper]

I don't know much about modern dance but I know what I like

A few years ago I was flicking channels late night when I came across a programme called 'Summer Dance'. I know v little about this art form and am no fan of classical ballet but the piece I saw on the programme really spoke to me: a small group of women sit in chairs in what looked like an abandoned institutional space. Accompanied by a a minimal, percussive, metronomic score, the dancers make repeated sudden movements that are simultaneously erotic and neurotic. Punctuating the whole performance are extravagent tosses of the head - almost headbanging - that must make the piece intensely draining to perform.

I missed the start of the programme and the credits didn't say what the piece was. The TV listings in the paper gave no details. This was pe-internet ubiquity so I was unable to find out more. I mentioned what I'd seen to a few friends for whom it rang no bells. Infuriatingly the all-female comedy sketch show 'Smack The Pony' appeared to parody the piece a while back but gave no hint as to what the source material was.

Now finally I've been able to identify the piece thanks to a review in the Guardian that seemed to describe exactly what I had seen. It turns out that the piece is called 'Rosas Danst Rosas' by a Belgian choreographer called Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. It's apparently very well-known in the dance world and has recently revived (hence the Guardian review) with De Keersmaeker herself taking part.

Here's a youtube video of all or some of it (it doesn't make clear which) which is well worth watching, enjoy: