Merge Dance Company - Response

On March 6, 2015 at 7:30pm I attended INtersections a concert presented by Merge Dance Company, performed at the Patti Strickel Harrison Theater at the Performing Arts Center on the Texas State University campus. This concert included multiple guest choreographers and performers showcasing their work. One guest choreographer was Heike Salzer; Salzer created a work titled Zefiro, with a sound collage by James Barron and Thomas Jameson, including Zefiro Torna composed by Christina Pluhar and L’Arpeggiata. This dance work had a suchness of an innocent childhood, brought about by the playfulness and explorative movement language created from the use of balloons as a prop. The strong choreography of this work contributed to the creative aspects, thus making this a true work of dance art.

            To watch Zefiro was to be taken on a magical journey that provides an awe-inspiring experience, thus leading this work of art to be categorized under art as sublime. This work of art creates an atmosphere for audience members that may feel familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time. This familiarity comes from the literal idea of the balloons; balloons are an object that everyone can directly identify with because we all have the knowledge of these objects, however every person can experience a different emotion with them. These emotions that are particular to each individual could possibly create a story that each audience member is accustomed to. Though Zefiro produces a comfortable energy, that is knowable, there is a contrasting energy that leaves an air of mystery. This mystery comes from the situation that the choreography produces; this situation is that of dancing, moving, and interacting with balloons in a manner that we, as humans, are not familiar with. Surrealism can be used to describe what I felt while watching this work because of the bizarre relationships arising from the movements. When looking at this work it reminded me of an inner dream or wish being brought to life. The choreography resembled a type of ceremony, possibly a celebration ceremony because with the title of the dance, Zefiro, the work could display a celebration to the goddess of the wind. The bright music that began in the middle section of the dance made me think of folk music, and created the image of a community performing this dance. Zefiro, a bright and eclectic work of art, had traces of inspiration from folk and ceremony dances while being presented in a contemporary performance setting.

            A story is being told within this work, but not a narrative; this story is presenting a person’s inner emotions and dreams. This makes me consider Zefiro a metaphoric dance and more represented of the 2^nd function. What I realized while watching this dance is that it represented the immense happiness that a human can feel when a dream is met or an unbelievable experience has occurred. This unbelievable experience could be finding an unexpected lover or simply jumping out of a plane, both scenarios are ones that produce higher serotonin levels. When serotonin levels increase within a person this can make them feel as if they are on cloud nine or invincible; Salzer creates this same feeling in her piece. Regarding 1^st function elements, the strongest was the use of space with props. The movement language that was used with the dancer and prop interaction was brilliantly authentic. There were simple gestures, such as carrying the balloons into different formations, which were highly effective. The ending action was the most prominent 1st function element where the dancers were laying on the ground holding the balloons when they released them into the air; this was pure 1^st function in the sense that balloons, as a literal object, float away through space. It is apparent that Salzer did not just make a work of art, but created it. According to Dennis Dutton this dance could be categorized under multiple universal signatures including: direct pleasure, expressive individuality, and imaginative experience. Zefiro embodies these signatures from the positive energy and dynamics that it emits to expressing a metaphorical story that is unique to every individual audience member.

            Without a doubt, I can confidently say that Salzer is a true artist in the dance community. To be able to create a dance work that goes beyond time, space, and energy and into the conscious lives of audience members is a gift. It brought back memories of childhood moments and I received the chance to live the time of innocence all over again thanks to Heike Salzer.