On
Thursday January 29, 2015 at 8pm, Hubbard Street Dance of Chicago took the
stage at the Bass Concert Hall located in Austin, Texas. Hubbard Street
performed five works including Jiri Kylian’s Falling Angels. Falling
Angels use of repetition was pushed past appealing and into dissonance. Repetition
is a useful choreographic tool that choreographers use to repeat a special
moment or an interesting movement. This captures audience’s attention and gives
them the opportunity to witness the moment again. When repetition appears to be
the only tool used, or is prominently used, the piece of work becomes
monotonous. As an audience member I was observing and analyzing the structure
of the work, but the work was completely overshadowed by repetition. Within
creating art, artists often try to explore new mediums, themes, and approaches
to the creative process. It was prominent within this work that Jiri Kylian was
using this one single choreographic tool as the basis of the dance. I
appreciate and respect the bravery he had to ultimately go against the rules.
In school we are taught, as choreographers, how to choreograph including the
use of all the tools. Within choreography lessons it is taught that these tools
help grow dance works and avoid works becoming mundane. It was a bold move on
Jiri Kylian’s part to, instead of using all the tools, to only focus on
repetition. Though he was bold and brave, it quickly became stale. The
repetitious quality made the work seem interminable.
