Four faculty members explored humor, loss and the nature of life through their choreography pieces centered on the theme, “Let It Be,” inspired by The Beatles’ popular song.
The Dance Performance Project: Let It Be was performed in the Vonnie Borden Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
The performance began with the piece “Autumn Shift,” choreographed by Alison Maraman. Dancers began in lively motions with colorful lighting accentuating the mood. As the dance progressed, their movements shifted to a graceful lull, symbolizing the transition from summer to fall. At the end of the piece, the dancers drifted away from one another like leaves from a branch and finally laid on the ground in rest.
“The autumn is a time for us to turn inward, to put our feet on the earth,” said Maraman in her program description. “In the fall, all the things that no longer serve us, whether it be a person, place or thing, must be let go of.”
The second piece, “Cross Words,” was choreographed by Dr. Martie Fellom and served as a political satire discussing genetically modified organisms sold as food and United States fiscal policy. Two performers danced around the two issues plaguing the country: one demanding healthier foods, while the other dancer lamented the tremendous burden of debt the United States is carrying. Three singers encouraged apathy from the dancers, insisting that they should just “Let It Be.” The protesters refused, eventually deciding that both problems may be fixed by widespread consumption of local, organic products, thereby investing in both the United States economy and in the health of its citizens. The two activists took a stand, deciding to work to implement these ideas, changing the lyrics from “Let It Be” to “We the People.”
“I wanted to pull the singers into the issues, and I also wanted to make a statement regarding when to let it be,” said Fellom. “Sometimes the best option is to take a deep breath and simply let go of the problem, but there are times when one must not let it be, as there is a time to stand up for what you believe.”
The third piece of the performance, entitled “Let It Be,” was choreographed by Ashley Lewis. Elements of hip-hop and dubstep were incorporated into the routine, as dancers performed to remixes of the song “Let It Be” by artists Tripp and Dyme Deff. The piece represented struggles each person must face and the power to overcome them through individual strength and community support.
“There are parts of the song where someone lost a family member, someone had a bad relationship, or someone had bad health,” said Lewis. “In a way, I can relate to these kinds of things because I lost everything in Katrina. I got picked on in high school. I’ve been through bad relationships. I’ve lost several family members, and if those things never happened to me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s helped me grow stronger as a person and as a woman. When you let those things be in the past, then you can move forward.”
The final performance was choreographed by Skip Costa, whose piece “There will be an Answer” was broken into two parts. In the first part, the front stage was lined with shoes with the curtains lowered so that only the performer’s feet were able to be seen from the audience. The performer tries on each shoe, ranging from cowboy boots to high heels, while Heidi Matherne sang “Let It Be” in different styles to match the shoes worn. According to Costa, the performer trying on shoes symbolized one’s search for identity. Finally, the performer decides to “Let It Be,” and chooses to wear scuba diving flippers as the shoe of choice.
“The first part was quite funny and humorous,” said Costa. “We gave life to all the shoes. She didn’t know what she wanted to wear. She didn’t know what shoe she was going to pick until she thought ‘Oh God, just let it be,’ and it came to her: ‘The flippers!'”
The second part of Costa’s choreography presented a more serious message. Two dancers engaged in strenuous activity, each one bearing the weight of the other in turns. In the big picture, this represented the support that each person receives from their close relationships in times of struggle. The inspiration for the piece came from a personal experience to Costa, however.
“Mine was about, for the most part, my grandmother and my mom,” said Costa. “My grandmother passed away two years ago, and she had several bouts with cancer. My mom was always there to support her. They were best friends. This duet was about them: the support, strength and the bond between each other.”
Evan Thomas, senior photography major and member of the audience, had never witnessed a dance performance before that night. Nevertheless, he found the performance “cohesive” and “well choreographed.”
“The part with the feet was conceptually interesting,” said Thomas. “Not actually seeing the dancer, but seeing the movement alone was kind of interesting. Heidi, the singer, has an excellent voice.”
For more information on upcoming dance performances, contact Costa at [email protected].