Pam Tanowitz Modern Dance or Yoga Class?

PAM TANOWITZ DANCE performed 2 World Premiere compositions at the Joyce Theatre last night. The program was less than an hour with 1 pause.  The first piece, PASSAGEN,  featured a female duo accompanied by violinist P. Harris.  Harris moved to 3 different musical stands while playing on stage.  The music was by Amer. avante-garde composer John Zorn ('13) and played with forceful virtuosity by Pauline Harris.  Unfortunately, Harris broke so many strings while playing they became distracting.  The dance itself was  so minimalist that it felt like a warm-up exercise & was unremarkable except for the Lulu Lemon yoga-like costumes which co-ordinated nicely with Harris' dress.  The 2nd piece, HEAVEN ON ONE'S HEAD began with an intriguing curtain raised 1/2 way with a male/female couple in androgynous red velvet shorts/tops that reminded me of GONE WITH THE WIND (made from the curtain fabric.)  The pas de deus with Dylan Crossman & Sarah Haarmann was magnetic.  The movement of one was connected to the other with elasticity & taut musicality.   Modern dancing which has now become a blend of ballet/modern in Tanowitz's piece looked more like a choreographed yoga class.  Tanowitz used too many basic yoga positions found in yoga works: warrior II, warrior III, modified side angle, 1/2 downward dog, tree, & leg high poses.  None of the dancers did a head stand but they were dancers lying in sha vassanah on stage and audience members napping.