The annual dance concert by the Department of Dance, Currents and Crossings made me realize that dance is such an interdisciplinary genre of art. While many aspects of dance are associated with performing arts, dance is a form of visual art at the same time because dancers constantly use their bodies, props, and costumes to “paint” the scenes on stage. Dance can also incorporate many other types of arts to stimulate audiences’ senses, such as music, visual arts, and engineering.
Out of the four dance pieces performed that night, I found the first one — “Into the Wind” — most intriguing. In addition to the eight skillful dancers, this piece incorporated flute and percussion improvisers, two paintings, a poem, interviews with the factory workers, and a “wind data sonification” system to present its unique atmosphere. This seemingly random combination of arts reflects its unique background — “Into the Wind” was premiered near the grounds of the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center, the groundin which renewable energy initiatives replaced the Continental Motors engine factory. As such, the dancers represented both natural and industrial sides of this story, by depicting the factory workers in one scene and the wind moving freely in another. While the props such as draping fabric and beautiful soundtracks helped create these scenes, the dancers’ artistry really made these scenes happen vividly.
This concert was a testament to how dance can serve as the bridge between all art forms. Although the School of Music, Theater, and Dance tries to encourage collaboration between these art forms, it’s a shame that the Department of Dance tends to be underrepresented in the SMTD community. (Case in point: there was only one act that featured in the Collage Concert last month, whereas there were many music acts and some theater acts.) I can’t wait to see what other shows they have in store for us, and what collaborations they are thinking of doing.
