Thursday, Jan. 16, 1997
Dancing with nature
By DAVID SCOPINICHCollegian Arts Writer
Native Americans believed elements of nature such as earth, water, air and fire could be directly matched to themselves. The earth represented their body, water was their blood, air was their breath and fire represented their soul.
Nani Manion (sophomore-French) performs with other participants
in the "Water" dance. The dance is part of the Department
of Kinesiology's "Elements" performance which will take
place today and tomorrow in White Building. (Collegian Photo/Tracy Senycz
- click for full size image)
The Department of Kinesiology will present a performance of dances
responding to the natural elements today and tomorrow at 8 p.m.
in the White Hall Dance Theatre, 132-133 White.
The performance uses Native American beliefs as a unifying force
for the varying dances, which range from folk to modern.
"People can expect a mixture of styles of dance," said
choreographer KT Huckabee Milburn. "Each choreographer took
a different angle on their element."
Milburn choreographed the "air" segment of the program.
She said the lighting is also reflective of the element in each
section.
"The 'air' in portions is very light. There's a sense of
openness until the air becomes assertive," she said. "Then
there's an orange-like effect of decay such as the southwest desert
has been affected by strong winds."
Other faculty members and dance instructors in the Department
of Kinesiology will choreograph the earth, water and fire portions
of the program. Elizabeth Hanley, Patricia Heigel-Tanner and Vicky
McQuaide will serve as choreographers for earth, water and fire,
respectively.
The elements will be tied together by the participation of State
College resident Ned Boyd. He will use Native American chants
to show the unification of the elements.
"He is the transition between the elements," Milburn
said. "He is the thread between all the parts of the elements,
and we will open and close with him."
Boyd has done extensive research on Native American beliefs. He
said the chant he is using acknowledges the directions we go.
"The elements are important, and we have neglected and surpassed
them in this culture," Boyd said. "It's like playing
a matching game with yourself and the basic elements of the earth."
The program is meant to show people that we can identify parts
of ourselves by identifying elements of nature.
"It brings us back to our basic elements," Milburn said.
"That's why it's called 'Simply Elemental.' "
Tickets will be sold at the door of the White Building. General
admission is $5; student admission, with ID, is $4.
