Set against an interstitial backstory told via projections shot on location in Buenos Aires, Tango After Midnight follows Erin Scott-Kafadar and Alexander Richardson on a late night of dancing. When Scott-Kafadar accidentally loses a stiletto on her way to the milonga (an Argentine tango party), she’s forced to make do with one of her ballet pointe shoes as a replacement. Together Scott-Kafadar and Richardson dance, combining the techniques of the two disparate dance styles. This includes a series of intense and inventive paired dances, and a cheeky solo performance by Scott-Kafadar.” The pair are athletic, sensuous — a joy to watch,
From a technical perspective, I found the filmed pieces a bit too dark and difficult to see. The intention was to evoke the gorgeous atmosphere of Buenos Aires after midnight, but it was a bit overdone. I felt the audience was robbed of being able to see the romance and mystique the city exudes at night.
The dancing was charged with sexual tension, and the combination of the pointe shoe and the single stiletto added an unexpectedly fun percussive element that felt natural and paired well with the original soundtrack. I raise my glass of Fernandito to PointeTango, the dance company behind the show, for the lovely experience.
Tango After Midnight is at Tarragon Mainspace until July 11
