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February 17, 2006 California StateDSC_2249 University, Fresno
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February 17, 2006 California StateDSC_2249 University, Fresno |
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Ryan Tubongbanua / The Collegian
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The dreamer, Matthew Ragan, is visited by the seven deadly sins: lust, sloth, wrath, envy, pride, gluttony and greed as he sleeps. While the dreamer seems to resist the sins at first, he gradually gives in to each and becomes an active participant, even a leader, in this dance with the devil.
Over the course of the act, the dreamer experiences a fall from glory but is awakened to his actions and given a second chance, Ragan said.
The “Seven Deadly Sins” is meant to be a statement about the state of the world today, and at one point even samples from one of President Bush’s addresses to make a point about sin in relation to pride and political power.
The dance is a vehicle for looking at sin in a more intimate way and finding the applications of sinful behavior in all our lives, Ragan said.
Gluttony, in particular, is a sin most people see abstractly, but the dance tries to convey the presence of gluttony in many aspects of American life, shedding light on the ‘bigger is better’ mentality that seems to pervade our culture, Ragan said.
“Last Resort” opens with “Tablas,” a fusion of ballet and Afro-Haitian dance set against a fiery sunset backdrop, accompanied by a percussion score. The rhythmic movements of the dancers are meant to evoke empowerment and the force of nature.
The second piece, “Rose to Blue,” choreographed by Griffin, was inspired by painter Pablo Picasso’s Rose and Blue periods in Paris. It is a two-part act, featuring two clowns performing to French music.
The rose clown, the Red Buffoon, represents the aggressive and antisocial behaviors that are seldom expressed fully once a person moves beyond childhood. The Red Buffoon engages the audience in his act through a series of spirited performances, such as a duel with a red balloon.
The somber blue period is set in sharp contrast to the manic movements of the Red Buffoon. It is performed by the Blue Pierrot, a clown that at first channels Picasso’s creativity, but then finds himself mired in the disappointment of an unrequited love. The act reaches its crescendo with the blue clown posing an unanswerable question, drawn from the veins of his own inability to capture love.
“Slightly Askew,” choreographed by Melissa Rolnick, is the third dance piece presented, is a work of lyrical abstraction set to the music of Shostakovitch. The dancers seek to interpret the subtleties of the score through a series of formally structured movements.
The Portable Dance Troupe was established at Fresno State more than 30 years ago and includes students, alumni and members of the community in its performances, Griffin said.
Ragan, who has danced with the troupe for three years, said the group is the longest running modern dance company in the Central Valley, and one of the only ones which invites choreographers from outside the community to come and work with students.
“Last Resort” will play February 17-19 and 21-25 at the John Wright Theatre at Fresno State, all performances start at 8 p.m., except on Sunday when it begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students with a Fresno State ID and are available for purchase at the theatre box office and online at www.csufresno.edu/Theatre.
