After watching the performance, Pina Bausch seemed to utilize many elements of post-modern dance such as the use of simple movements and simple costumes. However, the dance had many special effects, lighting, staging and music that were not as emphasized in post-modern dance. Many movements, such as dropping stones or actions preformed during the vignettes were movements that any person could do and dance movements that were done for the sake of dance. They were ordinary and even some that had a story line such as eating or putting on makeup. The costumes of the dancers were all long dresses of various colors/prints for the women and black and gray tones for the men. They weren’t dressed in elaborate costumes but rather playing many parts and displaying many stories in the same clothing. The reason I think Pina Bausch is not in the post-modern dance classification is the high use of lighting, staging, and music. The piece we saw on Friday included many special effects. The stage split apart like ice cracking into pieces, mending, and then cracking again. The pattern repeated over and over again throughout the whole piece. There were also many different lighting effects and even moments when the whole scenery changed. There was a moment with images of water or a dark area encompassing the dancers. Also, there were various musical selections being played in different languages, different themes, and different tone colors. The overall performance felt more modern dance than post-modern dance.
Passport to the Arts
Donna Uchizono's Seminar 1 Class
As Sayeeda suggests, Pina Bausch’s “…como el musguito en la piedra. ay si, si, si…” was not a true embodiment of post-modern dance. The dance lacked the minimalist nature that is very characteristic of post-modern dance. For example, the setting was a major component of the piece. Like Sayeeda notes, the dynamic stage and lighting was a huge departure from post-modern dance, because post-modern dance emphasizes bodily movement above all. In some instances during the dance, the stage floor cracked and the lights projected vivid images onto the floor, so Bausch’s dance is not post-modern in this respect. “…como el musguito en la piedra. ay si, si, si…” also contrasts with post-modern dance in its use of costumes and music. The dancers wore colorful patterns and the music was sometimes lyrical. Post-modern dancers would argue that these elements distract from the physical dance itself, which is the centerpiece of post-modern dance.
I believe that the dance by Pina Bausch was too extravagant to be post-modern. The multiple props were used during the piece take attention away from the movement itself. The props used include rope, corks, water, and dirt. Furthermore, the way the performers spoke and interacted with each other was uncharacteristic of post-modern dance. Also, some narration occasionally took place throughout the performance. True post-modern dance is not interested in telling a story. I felt like the performance sought to send an interpretable message to the audience, and again this is not the intention of post-modern dance. Overall, the dance is by no means post-modern dance.