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.