Illinoise

Sufjan Stevens is amazing. I was mesmerized when I first heard “Michigan” 20 years ago, and again a few years later when “Illinois” was released. Then in 2007, I saw what I still consider to be the best show I’ve ever seen, “The BQE” at BAM; incorporating triptych video of the elevated expressway through my borough while hula hoopers twirled and spun to the orchestrated concept album. Follow-up audiovisual experiences “Planetarium” and “Round-Up” solidified his esteemed standing on my personal ranking of most interesting and exciting artists. When I received a mailer announcing a dance interpretation of “Illinoise” I was very intrigued and, last night at Park Avenue Armory, was completely enthralled by another one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Depicting an adolescent journey of discovery, adventure, tragedy and redemption, the protagonist transmits his experiences and emotions into a journal, leaping off the page in graceful movement and evocative music. Friends and lovers intermingle with their own stories, inspiring creativity and fostering community, while also plumbing the depths of isolation and suffering. The choreography was captivating and the dancers were sublime; the music has always stood on its own as beautiful minimalism-meets-baroque folk-pop and the orchestra performed it brilliantly, but the addition of silent narrative movement (with only a single audible “Wooo” exclaimed by the dancers) added infinitely more depth and dimension to the piece, drawing me in completely to the arc of anthological tales vaguely centered on the state of Illinois but more poignantly to the bared honesty and creative catharsis of the creator. It felt like a private and intimate confession from the artist and it translated into a powerful emotional experience for this audience member. I am grateful that he continues to make astounding and inspiring art.