Company: Step’s Junk Funk
Choreographers: Step Raptis and Lisa R. Chow
Performers: Step Raptis and Lisa R. Chow
It took a while for the light to go on. Sometimes I think I can see deeply into things, sometimes I can’t see what’s in front of my face. But suddenly, there it was. He’s a creative percussion guy who participates in dance, she’s an accomplished dancer who knows a little something about rhythm. He dances a duet with her (Two of Us) and she gets down on the drums with him (Step Boom Bop). Duh!
Of the two collaborations, this is by far the most successful for me. First, their performance level isn’t just surprisingly good, it’s very equal. One of them is not visibly (or audibly) better than the other. Chow may not be a percussionist, but she can bang the sticks. And in a dual-drum performance that requires perfect coordination, they’re both hitting the skins accurately and with some authority. Second, they’re playing it from where and who they are, not trying to present themselves as the Taiko Twosome. I’m not sure Step could rock the loincloth anyway, but that’s not the point. They acknowledge their incongruity and work with it.
Their comfort level with each other is disarming and we soon quit trying to figure out what the hell they’re doing up there wielding some drumsticks. It’s pretty much an unspoken, “Just having some fun here, folks!” and we go with it, especially when they start hitting it hard and fast. Aren’t they a little old to be doing this? Yup. But they cover it with some “Hey old man, we’re not done yet” shtick. And then go back to beating the hell out of those drums. Pathetic taiko yells and grunts? All part of the act.
We’re hardwired to root for the underdog, and everyone loves a come-from-behind surprise. Like the fat, shy, cross-eyed kid on Transylvania’s Got Talent that belts out an aria and sends everyone into paroxysms. Or like this most unlikely older couple that has us rolling our collective eyes, wondering how they could be trusted with drumsticks (and more than half afraid they’ll use them) – until they stand and deliver on the drums. It was odd. It was surprising. It was low-brow fun. Oh, yeah – and some pretty damn good drumming!
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