Art to Art

fanfair

Where style meets substance

Choreographer Karole A rmitage and painter David Salle are a match made in art heaven. She makes guest appearances in his paintings, and he reciprocates with eerily cool painted costumes and backdrops. The resulting stage images can be striking: while Armitage and her dancers fling themselves around like punked-up rag-doll ballerinas, three massive boots float in midair, a giant teapot looms. Armitage's latest piece uses designs by Salle that are sure to set tongues wagging. A highlight of last month's L.A. Festival, it will come next month to RAM's Next Wave Festival in New York. Despite some tough notices for past collaborations, the awesomely talented twosome shows no signs of retreat.

CRAIG BROMBERG