Last night, I had the fortune of being invited to experience Fuerza Bruta: Look Up, the energetic performance art piece by Argentinean creator Diqui James.
The event took place in a large space in the downstairs area of the Daryl Roth Theatre on East 15th Street. Thick, steamy fog rolled across the floor to greet us, filling the space like a night club. Lighting fixtures loomed above, and an open tech booth jutted from a side wall for all to see before darkness engulfed the room.
It began with instructions: “Touch set pieces gently with the palm of your hand.” From the darkness, the lone figure of a man in white appeared. He walked, slowly at first, the music keeping pace with his pulsing stroll. He moved faster and faster, before bolting into a frantic run. With him, we raced forward into a circus of movement and imagination that segued from one spectacle to another. Aerial acrobats raced like Atalanta and Hippomenes against a billowy silver backdrop. Dancers attempted to resist the seduction of dance before succumbing to its pleasure. Party goers literally tear the room off the place while celebrating.
At one point, the troupe entered the audience for a Carnivale communion of sorts, ceremoniously charging the crowd with the spirit of dance, engulfing us in a swirl of white confetti and movement inducing dance beats. A DJ in a powdered wig and ruffled shirt delivered intoxicating rhythms from a high, distant booth. The music demanded attention, and the crowd gave it, jumping and dancing with the performers.
For me, the highlight of the experience was the aquatic ballet that began in a tank suspended high above the audience. One, then two, and finally four figures appeared in the shallow pool of water in the sky. Like underwear clad school girls at a mermaid slumber party, they alternated between sliding and wildly slamming into the water, simulating graceful swimming and then fiercely crashing waves.
Slowly, the pool descended to a position inches above our heads. The mermaid closest to us made eye contact with the man to my left. She smiled and pressed her hand against the transparent bottom of the tank. Slowly, the man reached up and pressed his hand to hers. She smiled again, and “swam” away. Throughout the room, this special moment was shared as the mermaids glided silently above the awestruck observers.
Fuerza Bruta means Brute Force. The kinetic energy of choreographed dance, the forceful wash of white light and the demanding blasts of air from the fans high above gave way to the tenderness of the water dance. It was the calm before the storm of music and excitement filled the space once again.
Finally, three figures emerged, and seemed to race against, from, and to life, time and space itself, before being faced with a tall foreboding staircase. Their frenzy gained momentum as they climbed up…up…up to be confronted by a daunting drop on the other side of a door. As expected, they jumped …and continued to run!
Appropriately, the evening ended in revelry as the performers once again joined their audience to dance in an indoor rain storm.
I never knew such an amazing experience was tucked away on 15th Street, far away from the bright lights of the theatre district - shining brightly on its own. If art stimulates, and amazes, encourages and inspires, then Fuerza Bruta is definitely art.
Actor/comedian Jim Carey, in town to tape Saturday Night Live, was also in attendance, and seemed to enjoy the show as well. His smile was a broad as my own.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
-Ceddy
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