Theater Reviews + Features | Pittsburgh City Paper: Performance-art troupes frequently blur genres, for instance blending video with live action. Belgium-based NanoDanses takes things one step further, if not two.
Choreographer Michèle Anne De May and filmmaker Jaco Van Dormael's Kiss & Cry tells the story of an elderly woman recalling her greatest loves. But the actors are the hands of performers that dance and mime on a miniature set, all while the action is tracked by cameras, feature-film style, and projected onscreen for the theatrical audience, with poetic voiceover narration.
8 comments:
I really, really regret not being able to see this. I heard it was unbelievably fantastic. However, I did watch clips of it on vimeo, and I was blown away at how emotional it was. It is beautifully filmed, and it's unbelievable how much the performers can express simply through their hands. I would love to talk to the director and designer for this show to find out how they even came to this idea, for it's a huge risk to take! I admire the creativity and beauty of this performance.
Here's the clip from Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/68122216
ps- I'd love to see the audition process for this show..
The question of media’s application and place on the stage is one of continual discussion, particularly among Carnegie Mellon students. I contend that while media is a stunningly capable tool, it is similar to that of a lathe; if not used carefully, permanent injury occurs. There have been several shows I’ve watched where the media seemed much superimposed, and that which it accomplished could have been easily facilitated by one of the other design mediums. Thus the media was used for media’s sake. As an educational institution, I understand and appreciate the effort to create a multitude of opportunities. However beyond the educational realm, there still seems to be this surge in media use. Often media designers are asked the question “what can we do to enhance what is being presented?” Yet the discussion need not stop here. Instead, I forward “In what ways can media be used to do or convey something that cannot otherwise be accomplished?” This production does just that and audiences find it simply captivating. This innovative technology intrigues me fathoms more than “enhancement” designs.
I really wanted to see Kiss and Cry! I had heard about it but wasn't so sure what is was (nor did I have the time to go) and now I really regret not being able to see this. I love the fact that they used hands. I just watched the video Anna posted and it is beautiful. I love that there are people who realize how beautiful every part of the body is and how every part can emote one's emotions. The hands are just such an amazing part because they are emotional and they can do so much. Hands help people communicate with each other. Hands are what we use to represent the idea of touch. They are used to embrace when in love and the are used to hold on to when there is loss. There is a costume designer who I worked for over the summer and one of her previous projects that she had done (I think in Grad School) was about touch. She showed in her clothes where she had been touch physically or metaphorically and the lack of touch. Touch is such an important aspect of our lives that we seem to overlook.
After Dick's description of this at conservatory hour, I was really looking forward to seeing this show. Then I googled it and saw the show times and realized that I couldn't see it and was disappointed. Reading this article, because I didn't really know anything about the show besides the fact that it got the Dick Block seal of approval, made me actually disappointed that I wasn't able to see it. The concept seems so fantastical, and I would really have loved to be able to see how it was executed. Oh well, at least there are videos of it available (thanks Anna).
I had planned on seeing Kiss and Cry but when I went to buy tickets they were completely sold out. I also went to see Zee this weekend only to find that it had been closed due to three seizures happening there. From what I have heard though Kiss & Cry was beautiful and managed to be emotional even though it was just dancing fingers.
This is the kind of art that is moving and more people should start to see! I love playground for this exact reason because new ideas are sparked and creative imaginative ideas are formed. There is something about art that is not just there for you to see and take in directly as it is, but as an experience that you must be drawn into to fully understand. I would have loved to be able to see this, hopefully I can somewhere else. I feel that performers and artists nowadays are having to be more and more skilled. Artists who can do be creative no matter what they are asked to do will surely strive.
Sadly I wasn't able to see this (thank you Crucible Run Crew) however I heard it was amazing.
Shows like this really demonstrate the beauty of the art of performance. It really doesn't matter whether it's words being said on stage, dance, music or dancing hands, a type of magic is formed where the audience feels something, the audience is moved.
It's amazing how it really doesn't matter what type of performance you see, if it is well done it can move and inspire you.
I love when artist push themselves and come up with new forms of art, like this hand show.
Such a beautiful show! The main idea I was left with was the duality of perspectives. During the piece, I found myself looking at both the close up of the hands dancing, fighting, etc, and at the bodies of the actors, the camera operators and technicians. This was an extremely interesting mix of perspective: the macro and micro at the same time. This is definitely an idea/technique that i want to experiment and play with in my work.
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