Before there was "Survivor," before there was "American Idol," this country embraced dance marathons. Milwaukee's own Wild Space Dance Company, gives us a peek at the bygone, pop culture phenomenon of the 1930s this weekend with "Physical Evidence."
Within the hour and 20 minute-long performance at the Turner Hall Ballroom, the audience will witness dancers move through a 14-day dance marathon. That's right, 14 days. These events were not for the faint of heart.
"You will experience this performance as though you've stepped back into time," explained Wild Space Artistic Director Debra Loewen. "You'll see the dance marathon 'contestants' eating and shaving and doing everything else necessary for them to survive the competition."
Dance marathons began in the 1920s. Then, when the Great Depression gripped the nation, dance marathons transformed into contests that featured walking time trials, endurance tests, vaudeville comics and specialty acts, in addition to seemingly endless hours of dancing. For participants, there was the chance of winning big prize money; for spectators, there was relief in knowing others were in a more desperate situation than their own.
The characters in "Physical Evidence" are drawn from the real-life contestants of a Milwaukee dance marathon in 1931. The performance begins at the end of the dance marathon, when the winner is selected and the remaining contestants go home.
Local actor Mondy Carter serves as the event's "emcee," who provides a running commentary, much as the original marathon hosts did. "Physical Evidence" also features Scott Howland of Bialystock and Bloom as the floor judge as well as the choreography of Sofi Askenazi, Randy Talley and Catey Ott.
Loewen said the idea to create a performance based on dance marathons was largely inspired by Turner Hall Ballroom. Her fascination with the pop culture oddity, coupled with a desire to stage something site-specific in the historically rich Turner Ballroom, naturally led to the virtual recreation of a dance marathon.
"Physical Evidence" was first staged by Wild Space Dance Company in April 2004. The production returns this weekend, Dec. 1-3 at the Turner Hall Ballroom, 1034 N. 4th St.
Tickets are $20 adults, $18 students and seniors and are available at the event or by calling (414) 271-0712.
Wild Space Dance Company's Web site is wildspacedance.org.
