Anticipation has a habit to set you up for disappointment in evening entertainment, but tonight there'll be some love.

Mildly alarmed?  Questioning what you're seeing?  Maybe a little afraid for my sanity?  Let me clear things up.  What you see here is, yes, a collection of naked bodies lying on a blood-covered floor - but it's also more than that.  It is, in fact, a collection of naked DANCER's bodies lying on a blood-covered floor.

I know.  What a huge difference, right?  But this is honestly a dance show.  It's a shot from Dave St-Pierre's production, La pornographie des ames - translated by the NAC as Bare Naked Souls, but literally meaning Soul Pornography.  Intrigued yet?

You should be.  Because if you weren't tipped off by the lack of clothing or the stage covered in blood, St-Pierre's artistic creation has proved to be extremely controversial.  Covering a range of topics from rape to suicide to fat jokes, this production sounds like it's trying its hardest to push the boundaries - and apparently, it's succeeding.

Dave St-Pierre, a Montreal native, has cystic fibrosis - a disease whose sufferers' average life expectancy is 37 years old. Currently, St-Pierre is 33, and pursues his dreams of exposing the grittiest, as well as the most beautiful, side of humanity with passion and perseverence.  The dancers, as well - a group of fourteen, both professional and amateur - must also be applauded for their commitment to their art.  It isn't easy to be completely vulnerable on stage, especially with something this "weird".  It takes people of true character to share their art despite what anyone thinks.

The soundtrack isn't bad, either - this mix of dance, theatre, text and video is set to music by Bjork, Coldplay, and Maria Callas, just to name a few.

Personally, I'm going to go see the show.  If you live in the Ottawa area, it's showing at the NAC from January 27-29 at 8:00 pm.  Tickets are about $30 for adults, and about half that for students.

So go see it, if you can!  I'll be reporting my reaction in February, after I see the show.

Sincerely,

The Girl With One Eye