I loved Inhabit. I loved that the guy pouring my wine was one of the dancers and that I could hear the performers breathing and see them sweating. I am someone who dislikes "audience participation" shows where you live in fear that you'll be called to the stage and asked to participate (and possibly be made a fool of). I never felt that way with this show even though the dancers literally mingled with the crowd as they performed. It was such a novel breaking down of the wall between dancers and audience, and between audience members, for that matter, and hats off to the dancers for pulling it off. (They lost the security of that performer-audience wall, too, after all.) The dancing was athletic and graceful, the music was integral to the performance, not just an add-on, and the commentary was insightful. I looked around the room at the end as the lights were dimmed and we were all invited to close our eyes and rest on petite pillows passed out by the dancers. It reminded me of the end of a really satisfying yoga session, when everyone is lying in savasana, reflecting on this great experience they had just been through individually and as a group. This was like that. I'd highly recommend Inhabit.
All Lifts At The Market (at the base of Virginia Street)
Wednesday, August 27, 1pm Friday, August 29, 1pm Saturday, August 30, 1pm
What Is The Lift?
Juxtaposing the vibrant activity of Seattle’s busy streets, Lingo presents a one on one dance experience called "The Lift" – a humorous and helpful push up various steep city blocks. This 6 day project will culminate in a finale involving multiple hills and dozens of guest participants offering “Lifts” to hundreds of people.
The impetus for the project stems from a desire to plant the seed for meaningful interactions between strangers in the world. That said, we expect the reactions of those approached to run the gamut - from confused to delighted, intrigued to irritated. The advances of the performer will be accepted sometimes, but often not, and the whole experience will be documented here on Lingo’s blog. Recipients of The Lift are encouraged to post their reactions as well.
The Lift is a project about the attempt. The art may happen in the moment, but it certainly happens afterwards – in the conversations the performers have (or don’t have) with the strangers they connect with, and the explanations those strangers give later to friends who weren’t there.
The Lift is unpredictable, sometimes humorous, sometimes confusing, sometimes scary. Lingo performers set a catalyst in play as art and let the outcome decide itself.
The Lift is made possible by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Lingo is an inspired group of contemporary artists, athletes, actors, bravehearts, lunatics. . . and yes, dancers. They are drawn to the circumstances that provide common ground, inspire surprising connections and shift the entry point of how the public interfaces with dance. They seek platforms for work outside the limitations of proscenium-based performance, such as art "events" including food, drink, gathering and dancing, museum installations and one on one encounters in urban, public settings.
1 comment:
I loved Inhabit. I loved that the guy pouring my wine was one of the dancers and that I could hear the performers breathing and see them sweating. I am someone who dislikes "audience participation" shows where you live in fear that you'll be called to the stage and asked to participate (and possibly be made a fool of). I never felt that way with this show even though the dancers literally mingled with the crowd as they performed. It was such a novel breaking down of the wall between dancers and audience, and between audience members, for that matter, and hats off to the dancers for pulling it off. (They lost the security of that performer-audience wall, too, after all.) The dancing was athletic and graceful, the music was integral to the performance, not just an add-on, and the commentary was insightful. I looked around the room at the end as the lights were dimmed and we were all invited to close our eyes and rest on petite pillows passed out by the dancers. It reminded me of the end of a really satisfying yoga session, when everyone is lying in savasana, reflecting on this great experience they had just been through individually and as a group. This was like that. I'd highly recommend Inhabit.
Post a Comment