'Boo' guy revealed

This blogger received an interesting phone call over the weekend.
When the phone rang, a voice said, "Hi, I'm David Holt and I'm the person who booed the Bill T. Jones dancers on Friday night, and I want to explain why I did that."

It seems that Holt, a lawyer from Washington, D.C.,now in private practice, worked on Capital Hill for 10 years for Democratic Congressman Jack Brooks of Texas, and also worked for the Justice Department. For the past four  years, he worked for the Department of State in the division of anti-terrorism.

"I'm a true fan of modern dance," said Holt. "I love the Alvin Ailey company and many other dance groups, and I go to the Kennedy Center and other places to see dance whenever I get the chance.
" The reason I booed the other night is because I had paid good money to see beautiful dancers perform beutiful dance. But the dance was overpowered by the political message that went on through electronic media and through Jones' speeches giving his point of view on politics and religion. And I was extremely disappointed."

However, Holt said he wanted to accept Bill T. Jones' challenge to face him about the booing, and so Holt went to a talk Jones gave at the Avery Research Center on Saturday afternoon.

"Before he and I talked, Mr. Jones first answered question from the audience there as to how he got the idea for the title of the dance "Blind Date," said Holt.
"He said he got the idea for the dance's title  because with a blind date you often get the opposite of what you expect. Mr. Jones said he expected in November, 2004 for a war hero to be elected president when a coward who refused to even fight in a war, but sent others, was re-elected."

Holt said, "Next, I stood up and identified myself and then Mr. Jones said he was glad I had come forward or 'into the light' to explain myself. I told him that I felt he had a right to express the angst he feels, but that people had come to see a dance, not hear his lecture. I also told him that he had taken advantage of the audience by keeping them there one hour and 40 minutes with no intermission, while he went on and on with his opinions. And that's why I booed."

Holt added that he wouldn't have objected if Jones had expressed his political opinion for 30 minutes of the evening.
"Overall, Mr. Jones was very gracious to me and I was glad we talked," said Holt, who added that he loved Spoleto and had been visiting a cousin and greatly enjoying sightseeing in Charleston, and plans definitely to come back next year.

Comments

[I Was There]

It's disappointing that this coward doesn't address why he booed only at the last possible instant of the curtain call, a move designed to ensure he could avoid a conversation and do a "boo and run". It was only because Bill T. Jones was quick to react and the audience held this person accountable that he's even talking--his intention was clearly to skulk away in the first place, and that's what's reprehensible.

It's ironic that someone who has worked in anti-terrorism can't see what the piece was about, and sad that the only thing he looks for is beauty--he should stay home in the future with some Thomas Kincaid paintings of lillies and leave the dialogue to people with the guts and determination to stand up and actually express their views in an informed, engaged and open manner.

[Ida]

Your decision to comment anonymously is pretty ironic.

I spoke with a number of esteemed artists and arts administrators over the weekend; they seem to think his decision to appear at Avery was a stout call.

[I Was There]

The fact that he appeared at later events doesn't change the circumstances of the original incident, which were cowardly. If the audience hadn't fingered him he would have cut and run.

It is too bad that I'm posting anonymously, but I'm an artist at Spoleto this year and don't feel like becoming a gossip item in the Post and Courier.

[walter biffle]

I'm NOT an artist at this year's Spoleto and would love to be a gossip item in the P & C. Therefore, I gotta say:

First off, kudos for the person booing. It takes courage to do that. We need more people like that.

But next, like the anonymous artist here, i have to ask: How is an expectation to pay for "beautiful dancers perform[ing] beautiful dance" not highly political in itself?

Priviledge is political, lawyerman. (and we need fewer people like this).

[Heather]

I find it akin to paying for a concert and receiving a political rant. There are several musicians I no longer support, for this practice. I may share the same appreciation of music with an artist, but it does not necessarily translate to my sharing the same political view. Personally, I feel political lectures should be reserved for venues in which they are expected and open for debate. If a work of art was an obvious platform for a political rant, I would choose to spend my money elsewhere. If I wanted a sermon, I'd visit a church or call my mother.

Would I openly boo? No, I find that as distasteful the lecturing itself. I would leave as unobtrusively as possible.

[Heather]

Ignore me, I was unaware of Mr. Jones' political bent.

I was speaking of occasions where it is unexpected.

[no fair]

"I spoke with a number of esteemed artists and arts administrators over the weekend; they seem to think his decision to appear at Avery was a stout call."

Okay, but what do YOU think? ;)

[I Was There]

"How is an expectation to pay for "beautiful dancers perform[ing] beautiful dance" not highly political in itself?"

I think you don't really understand me, but yes, I agree--that expectation is political, and it's the expectation that since you hold a dominant belief you don't want any troublesome art making sound. It's the political belief that art should be seen and not heard...it's absolutely political.

And the booing took no courage. As I've said before, it was done just as the house lights were coming up, and if he hadn't been outed he'd have slunk away.

[walter biffle]

right on. i dig it.