Louvre Performance Ensemble’s showcase, “Muse,” was a demonstration of the body and its connection with various art forms.
Inspired by different art mediums, the choreography of each dance at Spurrier Hall creatively explored visual art through the human body. Before each dance, a short video was played to introduce the mediums, which included clay, light, glass, ink, marble, and watercolor.
The showcase opened with “Clay,” which contained powerful and exhilarating choreography. The performers began by elegantly swirling outwards and inwards, like a pottery wheel. After a sequence of spins, folds, and brushes, the dance ended with the performers stabilizing in firm poses, symbolizing a completion of the clay-making process.
The “Glass” number was one of the show’s highlights. Drenched in blue-green light, the dancers floated around the stage, often mirroring each other in an attempt to display reflection and symmetry. The cold lighting enhanced the performance’s aesthetics. The background music, Hans Zimmer’s “Quantifiable Connection,” infused the dance with a melancholic tone, adding a touch of complexity.
With “Ink,” Louvre brought a mysterious, dangerous, and stunning number. The performers were dressed in black and looked like fierce panthers pouncing around the stage. Inspired by the Rorschach inkblot tests, the movements symbolized an investigation of personality and commented on what makes one’s true self. At one point during the choreography, a dancer tried to climb up a stairway (made of the backs of the other dancers) but failed, poignantly portraying how mental illness can drag someone down.
Although some of the ideas behind the dances were more difficult to understand — for audience members not familiar with the arts — the overall show was engrossing. The audience appreciated each number, shown by their constant cheers and applause.
Perhaps our only criticism of the show would be that, occasionally, the performers were not perfectly in sync with each other, so the performance wasn’t as tight or precise as it could have been. But this did not significantly affect the viewing experience, and the performers’ confidence and constant bursts of liveliness more than compensated for it.
Like the greek Muses, Louvre’s performers celebrated inspiration, creativity, the human body, and art with their show. With innovative ideas and creative expression, Louvre successfully constructed graceful choreographies that brought life to various art media, leaving the audience to a beautiful night.
