A
phototropic fungus that grows on cow dung and "propels itself with extraordinary
strength, speed and accuracy," to be exact. It is the latter that serves
as the connection to the alternative meaning of Pilobolus: an
internationally acclaimed arts organization that was founded in
1971 and continues to explore the dynamic uses of the human body as
graphic expression. This organization lingers on the border between dance and
physical theatre, ignoring any preconceived barriers that stand between different
art forms.
I am in a professional dance company based in Chicago, and
recently one of my good friends and fellow company members traveled to New York
with our Artistic Director for a large performing arts conference. While they
were there, they were invited to a presenter's showcase, where different
premium dance companies presented single works in an informal and intimate
setting. One of the pieces that my friend and director had the honor of seeing
from seven feet away was Pilobolus's "On the Nature of Things." My
friend who got to experience this piece up close has described it to me in
such a vivid manner that it almost feels like I was there to experience it
myself.
"On the Nature of Things" is a quintessential
Pilobolus creation. It is a minimal dance piece that involves a two-foot column
that is raised above the floor, three incredibly muscular and controlled
dancers, and quiet, unassuming Baroque-inspired vocal music. It is minimal in
terms of dancers and additional theatrical elements, but there is nothing
minimal about the power of the slow, continuous movements that transform three
athletic humans atop a circular surface into a living, breathing sculpture. For
ten minutes, these dancers move in the most naturally controlled manner,
lifting one another, moving through each other, and creating organic flowing
forms with nothing more than their bodies.
On the Nature of Things
It is the strong interaction between human bodies, moving and
twisting and molding in a dynamic way, that is characteristic of Pilobolous.
Simply hearing a description of this dance piece from my friend moved me, and
if an imagined version of this sculpture-esque dance had such an impact, I
can’t even fathom the power of experiencing this art firsthand. When thinking
about Pilobolous in terms of this class, the phrases “divergent thinking” and
“expertise” came to mind. Pilobolous succeeds on the basis of thriving in both of
these creative manners. It is the divergent thinking that allows members of
this company to combine multiple fields, playing with the interplay between
dance and the more essential and basic physical forms. “On the Nature of Things,”
or so I have heard second-hand, highlighted the expertise of these artists. The
ability to make movement flow in the most natural manner takes an incredible
amount of control, and there was not a toe out of line the entire time the
three dancers were moving as one atop their platform.
I
have been unable to find full footage of “On the Nature of Things,” but the
following article contains exquisite descriptions and photos:
This is really cool! The amount of expertise and endurance of these dancers must be staggering! I noticed that the title seems to be an allusion to the 1st century BC poem "De Rerum Natura" by the Epicurean philosopher Lucretius. Do you know how this performance might be linked to it? I'm sure it can't be a coincidence.
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