Dissociation and connection; fleeting moments we seek, but miss; subtle conflicts. Reflecting on these experiences and the feelings inspired by the oil painting, “Blue Lovers” by Marc Chagall, “The Blue Suit Piece” is a study on one’s initial reactions when later met with true intentions.
“The Blue Suit Piece” was named for both the inspiration from the painting, “Blue Lovers” and for the piece’s blue suit costumes. Lilting cello, zither, and clarinet music creates an oceanic and atmospheric soundscape in which the choreography flows in waves as if in a deep blue dream. In the painting, two lovers embrace while appearing to be suspended in a sea of royal blue. Neither lover’s eyes are clearly visible; one has their eyes closed and the other appears to be wearing a blue masquerade mask, creating an even more dreamlike illusion. With their faces close to one another and one lover’s hand caressing the other’s cheek, a gentle, yet mysterious intimacy is evoked. This focal gesture inspired the main choreographic motifs.
As a quartet, the dancers weave angularly amongst one another and create linear shapes to mimic the cubist nature of the painting. Although the painting includes only two people, the quartet gives way to represent the two people as well as the two people’s feelings, thereby creating four “figures” in the work. The quartet of dancers eventually splits to create two duets, alluding to the distinction between the people and their feelings, before coming back together to create one unit in the culminating façade.
Comments