A man stood on stage, alone and in the dark. A dimly lit stage cast an eerie glow on him as he projected a series of notes. He was eventually accompanied by the rest of the dancers, as they remained in this dark setting. Thus, the performance began.
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s “Cesena” was a piece that utilized setting as a fundamental aspect of the dance performance. The piece was also greatly reliant on the musical score that was present for the majority of the performance. These two elements greatly enhanced the piece. Overall, I was impressed by the skills of the dancers and felt that the dance was skillfully intertwined with the music. However, I also felt that something was lacking. Perhaps this is because I am a novice to the dance world, yet I felt that there was a sense of restraint in movement, as the dancers were often moving at an either slow pace, or would remain in one position or location on the stage for a period of time. Occasional, transient outbursts of movement were fleeting.
One aspect of setting was a white, circular formation. It appeared to be a sand-like substance, and was an integral part of the piece. As the circle was in center stage, much of the dance revolved around, within, or outside of this constructed boundary. By the end of the performance, the powder had transformed from a neatly arranged circle to a ragged, uneven outline, having been kicked over, rolled into, and brushed along. Initially, the sand seemed to confine the dancers, as the beginning of the dance consisted of the movement of the dancers towards the audience then back into the unlit portion of the stage, all within the bounds of the drawn circle. As the dance progressed, movement was not limited to this region, and the circle rather became a transition region where dancers would pass. Perhaps the circle was a physical manifestation of the commonalities that unite all human beings. In fact, it was within and around this circle where most interactions between the dancers occurred.
Another aspect of setting that had a powerful effect was the lighting. The initial lighting seemed reminiscent of moonlight, evoking a sense of mystery and wonder. This seemed to be fitting and made the piece more accessible in way, as this sense of wonder paralleled what usually accompanies an audience at the start of a performance. The lighting was gradually brightened (at one point it may have been the result of an audience member who shouted to turn up the lights). The initial light setting that only illuminated a small region of the stage gave the impression that there was a wide expanse of space beyond the light. Yet as the lights were turned on, the stage resembled a dance studio, with the exposed ceiling pipes and walls. This transition to a more concrete setting seemed to run in line with the dance. Both seemed to suggest a graduation to the commonalities of human nature.
A final aspect of the setting was the musical score, which was a strength of the piece. The music was very intricately blended in with the movements of the dancers as a collective whole, and added to the flow of the piece. The ethereal nature of the score added to the initial sense of wonder that was first introduced by the minimal light setting.
The dancers seemed to use techniques similar to those from a rehearsal of John Jasperse’s we were privileged to see. For example, when two dancers were performing together, while their movements were not identical, at certain points, their positions or angles would align immaculately. There was a combination of intimacy and polarization of the dancers. There was a segment where one dancer was clearly being ostracized by the others, yet this was followed by a segment when all the performers clustered together into one unit and moved as one. This was very powerful for me and seemed to send a message of optimism and hope for peace. It seemed to convey that despite differences and clashes in ideologies, working together as one being is still possible.
Overall, as a result of the light setting, music, and locality of the dancers, the dance imbued a message of encouragement and optimism for the unity of humanity.
~Prima (Blog B)
