Dancing in their sound suits for the very first time, these girls are fierce and deserve every bit of attention they command!!!!
(segment choreographed by Lady Mahogany, seen in the foreground)
Tonight I witnessed a transformation of identities so profound that no amount of preparation could have groomed me for this experience.
To begin the evening, I observed as Nick gathered the dancers together for a group discussion regarding the sound suits. He explained their ability to transform the identity of the wearer from the very moment it embraces the skin, and added that, although equally capable in their talent to create a new persona, they are unique in the sense that every single suit demands a different type of character. Although I did not doubt these assertions, I also did not fully comprehend the gravity of their truth.
It was not until I watched twenty dancers disappear into wardrobe, emerging confidently as the incarnate of their suit, that I understood the power of the costume and its ability to transcend the spirit.
During his pep talk, Nick encouraged the dancers to build themselves into their characters, and to perform with conviction, explaining that to stand motionless on stage if owning the space has the equal integrity of heart-breaking dance moves.
He discussed the evolving infrastructure that defines the dynamic of the show, which is based on the encounters and interaction between these newfound identities.
Moments later, his statements were proven as hip hop dancers twirled in rafetta with the contentment of children entertained by a clown. Redefining their moves to adapt to their costumes, they delighted in the wardrobe and reveled in the company of their troupe.
I watched in amazement, bewildered by the rehearsal’s ability to continue in its climax. This group has truly come together, and in my mind, the show has already proven a success.
Nick ended by saying that he wants people to wake up in the morning and remember the performance.
I assure you, Mr. Cave, we will never forget.
Visual sensory overload in a playground of sound suits:
No time to elaborate but clearly the images can speak for themselves!!!
Now back to rehearsal to see these sculptures come to life… .
I feel as though I am waiting for a Christmas that keeps getting postponed. Although in actuality, the sound suits were never intended to be opened before Thursday, like a child mesmerized by packages in front of the tree, I am desperate to open the large boxes and over eager to inspect what lies inside.
Carefully packaged and shipped from Chicago, the sound suits are not just detained in these large brown boxes, yet in addition (though I cannot imagine why) are stored behind heavy deadbolts secured in equally steadfast doors. It is almost as though they suspect a certain overzealous inquisitor to make it her prerogative to find a way inside.
If that is the case, unfortunately, as the assailant I could not be stopped. Is this a healthy curiosity, or have I become the equivalent of an impassioned defender of animal rights, breaking into university laboratories and releasing the caged mice?
Am I justified to think the suits are ready to dance right out of the box? Feeling the vibrations of the dancers’ steps and the steady beat of the music, from behind closed doors and within secured boxes they long to be set free. It would be negligent of me to just look the other way. It would be a travesty to not just…. take a peak.
It was not hard to subtly slip away from a group of dancers so engaged in their craft, especially tonight with the added dynamic of a dj and live percussion. The true test was the restraint to allow one photograph to suffice.
Tomorrow will be the fourth rehearsal, and I am beginning to understand how this repetition induces evolution. These long hours have no substitute, for it is an unyielding matter of time which must be spent developing this dynamic, this camaraderie, and an unspoken communication between the dancers.
Bear with me, just a little bit longer, for I am certain this climax will be well deserving of the hype.
!!
Sneak preview of rehearsal! Still no sound suits but coming soon!!
Even his suggestion of composition and sudden inclination to pile a chair on his back rally for the claim that Nick Cave cannot escape abstract, three dimensional, and artistic elements from their permanent residence in his conscience.
Clearly, the form of the body can be made as much a part of sculpture as the inanimate objects it befriends. And who ever said sculptures must be statuesque? Enter sound suits. Enter cast. Enter art that is both innovative and integrative, and get ready to observe the show:
Meet the cast…. (well, a few of them at least!)
I think it is important to emphasize the significance of these dancers to the performance. I had the opportunity to speak with Nick today regarding the assemblage of the show, and he was sure to mention the important role each environment and community plays in its production. Although his sound suits and assistants are approved to travel with Cave, the rest of the pieces are left to be scavenged within the new environment. Through incorporation of local talents, settings, and materials, Cave is able to cater the performance to the specific area in which it takes place, and most notably, integrate the project with the entire community so that it serves to benefit all. He confessed that it would certainly be easier to travel with a company of dancers, trained in specific choreography and prepared to deliver a flawless performance upon arrival. However, based on the enthusiasm with which he discussed his current method, it is clear Cave has chosen the innovative and personally more fulfilling route.
Part of this decision means personally training his dancers and developing choreography in the days prior to the show. Tonight I watched as Cave instructed the performers on how to interact with one another in an encounter on the dance floor, toying between rivalry and affection, or carefully treading the line between the two. He gave direction and interacted through example, then slowly removed himself in order to observe and critique.
I watched as he watched his dancers, wishing I could see his vision and doing my best to imagine the upcoming show. His excitement is contagious, his energy infectious, and tonight I’ll likely lie awake— dreaming of sound suits.
