The Roadies were back on the campus of Columbia College Tuesday night for their encore experience with the Power Company, South Carolina's leading contemporary dance company. Thanks to Katie, we were given a full hour’s warning that there might be a little more body movement than the week before.
After a quick dinner of turkey and mayotard sandwiches with gallon-size cups of iced tea, we made our way back in to Martha Brim’s studio. We found out last week that Martha is the founder and artistic director of the Power Company. This week we would quickly discover that she is also a master of subtle persuasion. As Misty mentioned in the blog last week, the thirty foot wall of mirrors in the room can be quite intimidating for novice dancers like the Roadies. Martha reminded us that the people we see in the mirror are not ourselves, but our evil twin that can’t touch our dance skills. That mind trick was helpful at the time, but offered little comfort when I noticed the tripod and video camera hiding in the back corner.
Nevertheless, we threw caution to the wind, formed a circle and started moving. Without the shackles of rhythm or technique we creatively and fluidly moved our arms, shoulders, hips and feet through space. As the music began to play, we all somehow lost sight of the camera, the giant mirror, and the twenty-five people watching as we searched deep inside for our inner cowboy or cowgirl. Led by Martha and the Power Company apprentices, our circle began to rotate and swirl and our lasso-throwing, gun-slinging, and spurring evolved into a group interpretation of a bonfire as Johnny Cash’s "Ring of Fire" blazed in the background. Somehow, through the sweat and emotion, credulity set in and we failed to realize that we weren’t just dancing for our own enjoyment; we were auditioning for next week’s performance: Blaze! A Shakti Rodeo! Martha’s artful arm-twisting subdued the Roadie resistance and we agreed to perform under the lights next Friday night.
We moved upstairs to catch the real dancers for their last hour of rehearsal. They performed two dramatic numbers from the upcoming show that are in sharp contrast to the whimsical boot-scoot opener featuring the Roadies. The first was a number choreographed by former Power Company member Christian von Howard titled "In Memory of...." It powerfully illustrates the interpersonal relationships that flow through an individual’s life. The second dance they rehearsed was "Same Moon," an autobiographical piece written by current Power Company member Stephanie Wilkins. "Same Moon" dramatically captures the pain and sorrow caused by a broken relationship. Hearing the stories behind these two compelling pieces allowed us to go beyond mere observation and feel the emotions that the writers were trying to convey. A brief question and answer session with Martha and the Company furthered our appreciation for their work. Each of the members work a day job (and some work two!) in addition to the time they put in at the Power Company. They rehearse together two evenings a week year-round and practice solo sections in their limited spare time.
The experience Tuesday night brought home Martha’s statement from last week that everyone has within them the power to create dance. We learned that contemporary dance is as much or more about creative expression than it is about skillful technique. This was encouraging to us Roadies who, next Friday, will attempt to be as expressive as our two left feet will allow. For a great opening laugh followed by an entertaining and inspiring performance, come check out The Power Company’s performance of Blaze! A Shakti Rodeo! Brad
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