three pages refelction free-writing paper
ris01
my_paper.docxYiming Lu
Professor Valerie J.Ifill
07/20/2016 First Draft, 08/25/2016 Last Modification
This Saturday evening at 7:30pm, I went to see a live dance performance with my other two classmates on the purpose of enjoying the weekend while finishing our modern dance class assignment. Different from most dance show, this performance is an outdoors live show that sounds really exciting to me.
As we expected from the name of the show “Invisible River”, the performance took place at Strawberry Mansion Bridge above the Schuylkill River. When we arrived there, there were hundreds of people gathered on the banks and on the river. As the sun began dipping towards the horizon we anxiously awaited the start of Invisible River’s beck epoch . People set up blankets, chairs, picnics, and paddled kayaks, canoes, and dragon boats to opportune positions to view the aerial dance above and on the river. Finally, ethereal music began playing from the Strawberry Mansion Bridge. The audience was swept into the performance as the warm colors of the sun bounced off of river and the lush music swirled around.
In the distance, two bright figures in a boat began drifting towards the bridge. They bent, swayed, and stretched artfully as they came to stop under the bridge. Their movements were as fluid as the current, halting only when one of the dancers, is placed in a harness hanging from the bridge between two large silks that dangled from the bridge all the way to the river. Once in place, one girl began flying through the air, swaying, swiveling, flipping, and fluidly swooping between the two silk stripes. Her hot pink and orange figure popped against the gradients of blues in the silks and the dark water of the Schuylkill as she glided through the air above it.
As this solo drew to an end, two figures atop the bridge began moving. They began slowly descending towards the water. In the process of their descent they unfurled bright streamers from their costumes that blew beautifully in the breeze as they executed fluid movement in midair. Later on, the two girls on the river, and other three girls glided through the air with each other. Swirling, twisting, and posing, the dancers captivated me and all other audience. Ultimately, three aerialists remove themselves from their harnesses and got into the boat, disappearing behind the bridge leaving Vidich behind. At this moment, the two girls submerged themself into the water, eventually disappearing behind the bridge.
After narrating this live performance experience, I would like to talk about Location, Time, Music, Costume, and choreography about this show. Firstly, as I mentioned before, I think performed live outdoor on the river is a smart choice! I like the beauty of nature environment, the lightning from the sun or the tree shadow on the river and even on me for example. In my eyes, the dancers are giving the performance, I would looked around the view of the riverside and audience on the boats or nearby me---everyone was involved in this live performance. Secondly, as time goes by, the sun went down and then I focused more on the dancers because my surrounding was darker and darker. The reflection light of the river provides lights and the nylon costume of performers made sure they are the protagonists. Secondly, I will rate the music a medium grade because I can accept it but not really enjoy it. The music was playing very loud from the speaker, but as long as I wanted to be close to the performers, I had no choice but bearing the loud music. However, I like the modern style background music because I felt dynamic when I heard the music and the background music actually fit well somehow with the performance. Still, I couldn’t help thinking that maybe another genre of music may works even better with this performance since I feel like the movements from this dance show is “softer”,”slower” or “less intense” compares to the music. Thirdly, I appreciate the costumes that dancers are wearing for its bright color and flowing costumes. Still, I doubt the pink and orange color is the best choice. I insist that blue or green color will be better since these color connect to the water, sky and the nature surroundings. Fourthly and Lastly, the choreography of “Invisible River” is successful because the levels of space is strong and clear, the movement that aerialist dancers had done are highly difficult and exciting to watch. The choreographers also did a good job on combine nature elements and humanity together. In general, this dance performance reminds me of the duty to cherish, protect nature environment. Moreover, this performance encourages me to dance, to walk outside; to express my-self, to connect myself with the outside world, and I am going for it.
