Summary

• This is an energetic solo for a man, supported by a female backing group moving in unison with a provocative dance routine that resembles those for the former television dance group Pan’s People. The women’s dance routine is repeated with the repetition of the words. The tall, long haired women of Geneva Ballet look like Amazons in this section, but to achieve the same effect with later casts Bruce made the dancers more aggressive - instead of just waving their red scarves triumphantly as they exit, they now also use them to whip their male victim.
• This piece appears to take us to the tragic side of relationships – the feelings of despair and torment. Paint in Black can be seen as an attempt to obliterate something from the mind. Consider the movements – the male character in some form of turmoil. Do the lyrics imply that he has lost is lover, does the line of black cars imply a funeral procession?
• What is the relationship of the females to the male? What type of movements do the girls portray? What type of movements is the male executing and what feeling are they portraying? Do they relate back to the previous pieces? What other possible symbolism do you see in this piece (drugs, madness, suicide or crucifixion)?