Viva Momix: Expect the Unexpected

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIVA MOMIX.

DANNY JALLIET

Viva MOMIX is set to come to the Hanover Theatre on February 8th, and to say it is an entertaining visual experience would be nothing short of an understatement. This exciting show features athletic dancing, music, costumes, props and talented entertainers.

MOMIX is a dance-illusionist company based in Washington, CT. Moses Pendelton, the creator of MOMIX is a man of many hats. He has served in the roles of choreographer, dancer, and artistic director. Pendelton founded the dance company in 1980. The first performance took place on June 10, 1980 with only two dancers. Since then, it has grown to 40 dancers. The performances feature a variety of conceptual styles. Featuring the styles of Botanica, Alchemia, Remix, Opus Cactus, and Lunar Sea, there is uniqueness to each performance.

These 40th anniversary performances are certainly special. The opportunity to combine shows of the past in addition to the visual element of the MOMIX is certainly going to be a nice touch. As Pendelton noted, it is more of a visual experience. “The current show (VIVA MOMIX) is a nice cross-section of the company’s aesthetic,” Pendelton said. “It is a kind of a compilation album of highlights from various MOMIX productions. I see the show as more of a visual, physical theater than your typical modern dance concert.”

“We use props, special costumes, lighting, eclectic music, amazing physicality that is both sensual and humorous to create a unique and magical performance experience,” Pendelton said. “MOMIX connects the human to the non-human (plant, animal, mineral) and our job is to make visible what most people cannot see. What’s special about this show is the fact that it pulls from all of our various full evening works, in effect this is a celebration of this 40-year milestone,” he added.

With MOMIX performing all over the globe, it would certainly have to be difficult to narrow down a particularly memorable performance. For Pendleton, his favorite performance is the one that hasn’t been written. “My favorite MOMIX performance is the one that I haven’t made yet!” Pendelton said. “I must say that the very early performances were wild, site-specific events at my family farm in Northern Vermont. The name MOMIX actually comes from the name of a milk supplement for veal calves. Back then, I was charged with creating movements for 50 head of milking Holstein Friesian cows. I was seen perhaps more as a “cowographer” more than a choreographer. These early “seeds” of invention helped spawn what MOMIX has become today.”

A lot more goes into a show than just going up on the stage and performing. As someone who appreciates the arts, Pendleton is very involved with the show. “There is no real time limit for the making of a show other than the agreed upon deadline of the premiere”, Pendelton said. “Ideas can come from anywhere, anytime. A cardinal’s cry while you’re having a morning coffee could inspire a 20-minute dance. Two seconds of inspiration can be a lifetime of audience enjoyment.” He added, “Other times, you may struggle with an idea for six months only to discard it in the end! I might add that we never really throw anything out as much as we put it back in the MOMIX compost heap stockpiled with the possibility of it being remixed in another way on another day.”

"WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE COMING TO WORCESTER, THEY MUST DO A GREAT JOB OF ACCOMMODATING PERFORMING ARTS SINCE THEY ARE ACCOMMODATING US!"

With the growth of the city evident, Worcester is becoming a place full of ideas and creativity. It’s the perfect place for a show like the MOMIX to call home, at least for a couple of days. For Pendleton, this will be his first time in the city. The excitement is certainly palpable. Pendelton said, “I would say that we are very excited to be coming to Worcester, they must do a great job of accommodating performing arts since they are accommodating us!”

Pendelton is excited about the future, “Well, we hope that the current show (coming in February) will be a great success and that it will encourage the presenters to consider our latest full evening production “ALICE” for a future time. I might add that with MOMIX, you should expect the unexpected and if you walk away from the show with a little less gravity in your step, then the evening has been a great success for all. In the harsh reality of our current world, MOMIX offers a needed escape into a fantasy, which is an integral part of MOMIX’s reality.”