Program A
Hot Blue Vibe
As a one time unwitting participant in Olivia’s piece, I feel like I have a special connection to it. I have to say that although I was a little embarrassed to have all of those people staring at me at the time, as long as it wasn’t me up there, I enjoy the idea of audience participation. It could have been fun to watch someone else squirm for a change, maybe even someone who wasn’t a dancer and might not have played along as much as I did.
Over time, the piece had morphed into an interview of the band members. The preface at the showcase was that the group was in therapy with some unseen therapist asking them questions Great and Terrible Oz Style. I found that situation odd for a number of reasons: first, the characters sat on stage before the show began, talking to each other and oohing and ahhing over the lights and the stage. From having previous knowledge of the Vibes, I assumed that the group was supposed to be in a news studio or on a stage somewhere being interviewed for TV. When it became obvious that they were supposed to be in a therapist’s office, I was very confused. Second, Olivia’s tone of voice was off-putting. I have heard her speak on numerous occasions, and she always sounds very animated. When she was playing the therapist, however, her disembodied voice was flat and beyond dull, and it was strange to hear her say “boom” multiple times with zero inflection (also, no therapist would ever say that). I heard people around me whispering about it, so I know I was not the only one distracted.
Nonetheless, I was very entertained by the actors! I still don’t understand completely why a dance major’s senior piece would not include a single dance step, but I couldn’t stop laughing. I don’t know if Olivia created the characters or based them off of ones that the actor’s had already created, but the whole thing had me in stitches, so (objectively speaking) I loved it, despite all of my rigid ballerina-ness.
The Bakers
I wrote Josh an email about his piece, and in it I asked him for some clarity about the family dynamics occurring because though I could tell that there was some aspect of a broken home, I couldn’t hear the audio tracks of the dancers speaking clearly, and I was confused as to who was related to whom and in what way. I heard similar critiques from my classmates, so I assume that he also received similar comments, and used it to his advantage. I say this because on Friday night, the words were so much clearer, and I was able to understand that there were two parents who had 2 children, divorced, then remarried. I heard the conflicting emotions that occur in any blended family and saw them reflected in the dance. The children danced solely with their actual parents, falling into them for support then moving away, nearly throwing themselves out of their arms. They only danced next to their step-parents, almost ignoring them. When the two children danced together, they seemed frustrated and angry. It showed in their facial expressions and the rigidity of their movements. I even saw a certain hand gesture that refers to a phrase that I would rather not say here, a phrase which teenagers often use to make their discontent known. I found it interesting that Josh chose to incorporate that gesture. It really helped me to better interpret the children’s feelings.
Program B
We Were Afraid of Being Found Out
I love Whitney as a dancer, and always have as a choreographer as well. I am in awe when I watch her. But this newest incarnation of her dance completely lost me. I was confused from the moment that I saw the Native American costumes. I became more so when I heard the rain stick sounds and the whistle. I didn’t know why Kendra hissed. I didn’t understand how any of this related to her title. Then we heard one of the dancers shout: “I am not beautiful!” I understand neither what this had to do with Native American themes nor what it had to do with being found out. I however could relate the comment about beauty to the dancers then coming on stage and tugging on their lips and covering each other’s faces. I understood that it was about perception of looks and I saw the tie in. But she lost me again when Ross seemed to die, when the strutting and the country music started, and then even further when Kate began to scream. I was even more confused now that there was another complete music shift, which again had nothing to do with the costumes or the title (it was too high energy to be about sneaking around to avoid detection). Then the screaming was completely off-putting. I didn’t like it. I felt uncomfortable and I really just didn’t understand the piece as a whole. I love Whitney’s movement style and earlier versions were much more enjoyable….but I just couldn’t get past this!
