Contemporary show challenges myths of female experience

September 19, 2014February 25, 2020 The Guardsman

(L-R) Nick Brentley, Courtney Moreno, Peiling Kao, Chad Dawson and Chinchin Hsu form a diagonal line on the stage (Photo by Elisa Parrino) — (L-R) Nick Brentley, Courtney Moreno, Peiling Kao, Chad Dawson and Chinchin Hsu form a diagonal line on the stage. (Photo by Elisa Parrino)

Christy Funsch , City College dance instructor, is the choreographer and director of "This is the Girl," a dance and musical performed at Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 (Photo by Natasha Dangond) — Christy Funsch , City College dance instructor, is the choreographer and director of “This is the Girl,” a dance and musical performed at Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 (Photo by Natasha Dangond)

Story by Elisa Parrino

The Guardsman

“This is the Girl,” a new dance show choreographed and directed by City College physical education and dance instructor Christy Funsch premiered at the Dance Mission Theatre Friday, Sept. 12, 2014.

The show challenges the conventional depiction of women in myth and in dance performance.

Contemporary dance style allows prose and movement to blend together in a powerful connection between the spoken and the danced, where the audience can easily identify themselves with one of the characters.

Funsch and Nol Simonse performed a series of duets, interlaced with five more dancers’ movements.

Members of the Grrrl Brigade, directed by Bruce Ghent, on Taiko drums, Dory Ellis on electric guitar and the San Francisco Community Music Center Children’s Chorus, directed by Beth Wilmurt, played cover songs by PJ Harvey.