By Brian Gray
Seep is described as “an exploration and presentation of research conducted at the Rozel oil seeps found near the Spiral Jetty.” This description, though, does little justice to the production. While the description might seem clinical and scientific, or an abstract for a research paper, audiences will be surprised to find out that this is a dance production. Choreographed by Westminster Dance members Mikenzie Hendricks and Cambri Fox, this dance production revolves around the work of Kara Kornhauser, a senior environmental science student at Westminster College, in a collaborative effort known as S.A.L.T (Scientists and Artists Learning Together).
This dance production revolves around the Rozel oil seeps and the migratory birds and animals that incidentally become entrapped in the seeps. The tar seeps are themselves located near Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty, a landwork piece that itself has artistic and, to some, spiritual significance. One can expect that such a setting may entail in depth metaphysical contemplation.
The performance consists of three separate movements: Illusive Terrain, Transition State, and Placed Pieces. Each movement is evocative of the environment of the Great Salt Lake. The dancewear worn in the first movement were white and pale pastel pinks, reminiscent of the colors that form around the spiral jetty. Long, graceful movements along with short movements juxtaposed together in a manner of the landscape and the wildlife. In the second movement, the dancewear changes to dark, bold colors and black. In this transition state, there are much more stark and jolted movements juxtaposed, at times, with long flowing movements that seemed to suggest the dramatic shifts in landscape, but also hinting at the impending struggle of the wildlife in this terrain. The final part of the production is perhaps the most captivating, with the dancers changing into all black. A large black reflective cloth framed by tubing is brought out and placed on the stage. Beneath this slick cloth, dancers continue the dance, at first moving languidly, and then in sharp motions, like animals attempting to escape encapsulation by the tar, though it is too late. Dancers emerge from the cloth, and continue their movements, removing pieces of clothing as they dance, as an archaeologist might remove pieces of tar from the corpse of a preserved animal, and then coming to a standstill in the manner of display.
Dancers Indigo Cook, Madison Parker, Jorji Diaz Fadel, Cameron Welch, Kyli Fox, Nathaniel Woolley, Katelynn Killian, Erika Parker bring beautiful form to Seep. Advisor Allison Shir and Science Researcher Kara Kornhauserbring their unseen but valuable support to this production.
This production was surprising and enthralling. The field of environmental Humanities has largely been the area of literary artists, with Terry Tempest Williams and Edward Abbey as the main stars. But this production really opens up the possibilities of the interaction and collaboration between art and environment and science. I’m personally excited to see what future pieces will come out of S.A.L.T. If you are interested in intriguing modern experimental dance that pushes innovation, this is the production to see at the Fringe Festival.
Seep By SALT Dance Research, Choreographers: Mikenzie Hendricks, Cambri Fox, Advisor: Allison Shir
The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival, The Gateway Mall, 71 S Rio Grande Street SLC, UT 84101
Saturday, August 4th 4:30 PM
The fee to get into the Festival is $5 and the show ticket is $10. All ticket sales go directly to artist.
Tickets can be found at http://www.greatsaltlakefringe.org/tickets/
SALT Dance Research Facebook Page
Seep Facebook Event
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