Emily Jackson

Jazz 2500-Tues/Thurs 11:30-12:50

March 30
th
2014
Dance Analysis
On March 27
th
-29
th
The University of Utah Modern Dance department graduating
class of 2014 shared their choreographic work reflecting their individual pursuits and
explorations during the last four years. Along with the silly, fun, imaginative movement
from the 2014 graduating class the closing piece was an eye grabbing work that was
choreographed by the renowned choreographer, Carl Flink.
The first dance that stood out to me was called Ode to a pussy (cat)
choreographed by McKenzie Barkdull and dancers. For the most part, this piece had an
energized fun nature that brought the audience back to the imagination of childhood.
The piece began with a female dancer dressed as little red riding hood skipping about
the stage with a basket on her arm. She skipped slowly at first then as she skipped
faster and faster moving in circles, back and forth while throwing white stryofoam balls
she grabbed from her basket. There wasnt music, but a woman author of a childrens
book who was narrating a section of her book.
After little red riding hood left the stage a duo both dressed in black hopped
onstage. It seemed like this duet was acting out the crows that were narrated in the
story. They kept doing this perpendicular flat back shape with their arms glued to their
torsos, this made me think of a bird that was standing on a perch. They hopped from
foot to foot that looked as if they were walking like birds. They made many different bird-
like quick movements sometimes in unison and other times they moved one after the
other, it was like they were mimicking each other. During their whole routine the narrator
continue until they finished.
As the two crows were leaving the stage a body ran out, set down a chair, and
yelled, One! Then another person came running out, set a small table down, and
yelled, Five! This thing of running and yelling numbers went on for some time until
there were about fifteen pieces of furniture out on the dance floor. The last number
yellers were two dancers (a girl and a guy) who ran frantically on stage wearing child
sleeper outfits.
These two dancers in the childish outfits ran out in the middle of stage, set down
the stools, quickly ran around them and sat down. All the sudden, right after the two
dancers sat on the stools upbeat workout sounding music began playing. The two
childlike performers began to move to the loud beat of the musics bass. The
movements they made were comical and made me think of action figures that were
being maneuvered in an energized fashion. The ending movement of this piece was
when the two dancers finally laid down and pretended to fall fast asleep and the end of
the childrens book narrator completed the story of The Owl and the Pussycat. This
whole piece really made me think of a child dreaming. I remember as a child my dreams
would be so farfetched and ridiculous I could not make sense of them when I woke up.
The final dance of the evening was performed by the entire 2014 graduating
class. The innovative choreography was created by a guest choreographer by the
name of Carl Flink. At the start of the piece there were three dim work lamps that were
hanging from the ceiling and as they slowly flickered on the sound of white noise began
in the background. The three lamps became a little bit brighter and finally the audience
could see the dancers standing around in three circles surrounding the dangling lights.
As the movers steadily circled the yellow colored lights it gave me an image I will not
forget. This image reminded me of people dancing around a campfire or children trying
to grab a star from the dark sky. The one thing I did not like about this piece was that
this beautiful beginning, with the hanging lights, was cut short. I was so captivated by
the stunning sight; I wanted it to continue for just a little bit longer.
The hanging lights turned off and rose up to the ceiling and the dancers ran off
the stage. Then, one after another each other dancer ran back and forth from the stage
wings. When I thought the chaotic running was over they only paused for a moment
until they began to charge towards one another, catching and embracing each other.
There was a run and catch every second; after I saw one, my eyes would dart to see
the next one. This consecutive action made me think of a lighting storm, a bolt of
lightning striking one after the other. Although there were many graceful partner and
group lifts the one I enjoy watching the most was towards the end of the piece. There
were three groups and each one crowded around one person in the middle of a circle.
Each person in all three groups assisted to pick up the person in the middle by the core
of their body. They pushed in toward the middle and up, lifted the person in the middle
off the floor. The shape all the bodies created, with a person in the middle, reminded me
of a spinning ride scene at a carnival.
Overall the show was fun and entertaining; it was clear the seniors were enjoying
their last performance together. Every dance was full of life and imagery that brought
me back to youthful dreams. The set pieces were very pleasing to the eye, the
costumes were colorful and the performances unforgettable. I walked away with a new
appreciation for the way dance can convey memorable images of experiences in life.