 |
| Program photo from Meraki |
Meraki means, “to do something with soul, creativity, or love; to put something of yourself into your work.” The dancers in this show embody the meaning of Meraki as they demonstrate how dance is an extension of one’s self by using this translation from Greek language as their show’s title. This mainstage production is a choreography showcase put on by the students at Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts. The show is held at SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, which allows for an intimate theatre setting, where dancers communicate ten different narratives through the language movement.
 |
| Bypass, Photo by Laura Coons |
SFU’s dance program has a dialect that is passed from generation to generation, with each new group of students experiencing its influences and shaping these to their own interests and kinesthetic tendencies. Mannerisms of different teachers, mentors, and past choreographers, are apparent and show a common thread in some of the works. This is because the students work together so closely, their influences are often shared or shaped by who is teaching or working with them; floorwork, gestural movement, repetition as a motif, and expansive presence within the movement are apparent themes. It is alluring to see the choreographer’s dance style in their work even if they aren’t performing. I have a unique perspective as I am part of the student cohort that put on this show. I can see each choreographer’s distinct movement patterns from an outside eye as I was not part of this production. Kadin VandenHeuvel and Savannah Gillespie’s duet, Bypass, shows these two have very similar movement patterning which allows their work to mesh two bodies in space, as if you are watching them each embody each other as they move through angular shapes and undulating imagery.
 |
| Masked, Photo by Laura Coons |
The versatility of the students is what stands out the most attending this show. Although some of the pieces have similar themes or styles there are a few that stand out from the rest. Kevin Locsin’s solo, Quotidian, brings humor to an otherwise unified, dynamically somber show. His piece involved props, two folding black chairs, and text, which was conversational and playful. An Empty Sky, choreographed by Anja Graham, is a trio that used the lighting as a fourth performer in the
piece. The lighting was done by Rita Wei, and was influential and engaging to the dancers and to the audience. The performers would move through the darkness and appear to have transported to other parts of the stage. Nelle Lee choreographed the final piece in the show, Withstanding, which presented itself with resounding energy and aggression. It was virtuosic and energetic, with louder, more full, orchestral music that demanded the viewer’s attention. Savannah Gillespie’s group piece, Masked, emerged with maturity in its structure and choreography. The dancers in the piece are commended for their commitment to the movement and theme of the piece, demonstrating the frustration and anxiety that comes with society’s ability to mask its citizens into superficial categories.
 |
| Masked, Photo by Laura Coons |
The students of this show establish a voice, through the dialect that is SFU dance. They speak in a unique language that communicates their place as growing artists, and this is evident through their versatility and the individual works they create. Their maturity in movement and choreography is evident and shows SFU’s differentiation from the rest of the current dance scene in Vancouver. The students put themselves into their works completely, embodying
Meraki, as their contribution to SFU’s future generations of dancers.
Comments
Post a Comment