Best of Austin®

Best Moves to the Edge

Frank Wo/Men Collective

click to enlarge Best Moves to the Edge
Photo by Matt Bradford

In dance, there's physical and there's physical. There's rigorously pushing the body to its limits in service of grace and beauty, and there's … whatever Frank Wo/Men Collective does. Racing. Whirling. Squirming. Twitching. Hurling themselves to the ground. Rolling over one another. Sliding on wet plastic. Enduring blasts of water from a pressure hose. At times, Frank's shows – such as Rick Said So and Rub a Duck – play like physical endurance tests designed by Dr. Strangelove and Pina Bausch. But their absurdist sensibilities, kinetic energy, and inventiveness make them weirdly compelling and fun. Thanks to co-directors Kelsey Oliver and Roberto Di Donato and a bold ensemble, Frank carries you to the boundaries of what you think you want to watch and tips you over it.