week nine, critical review of dance piece #2

‘The Season’s Canon’ by Crystal Pite is a vibrant and thrilling piece, showcasing intricate group work, unique patterns and breath-taking, sudden changes in dynamics. The ambient, burnt orange lighting and fiery backdrop in this piece immediately creates an illuminating and passionate energy on stage, which is intensified by the eruption of dramatic and exhilarating violin playing towards the start of the duet. As to not distract from the technical and inspiring choreography, the dancers wear simple grey combat trousers and sheer vests, giving the piece an authentic and raw feel. Pite once again has kept a detailed concept in mind when choreographing this piece, as she draws her inspiration from “mineral life and an idealized state of nature.”, capturing the “essence of life”. A review by Jade Larine describes: “Its pulsing energy comes from the bowels of the earth and the human being feels irremediably vulnerable, at the mercy of larger-than-life forces.” and this idea of human’s feeling weak and vulnerable amongst uncontrollable events is a prevalent feature in the emotive pas de deux, ‘Flight Pattern’. (Fjord Review) Pite’s ability to transfix the audience with the haunting emotion behind her choreography is admirable and her continued use of beautiful, desperately reaching arm lines and grounded, deep transitions provides the perfect balance of fear and stability in her view of the state of our modern world.

Echoing the poignant atmosphere created in ‘Flight Pattern’, the use of rippling body isolations, deep pliés and broad, expansive port de bras in the opening of this piece immediately set an engaging and compelling tone. The dancer’s effortlessly extending leg lines and impressive control leave the audience captivated right from the start of the piece. Similar to the relationship between the dancers in ‘Flight Pattern’, the pair work together as one, rising into lifts seamlessly through their bodies entwining and melting together, before falling again to opposing levels from one another.

The unexpected and energizing shift in the dynamic of the music is accompanied by a series of much more intricate, precise and complex movements, such as frantically running their hands down each other’s arms and grabbing their ankles and wrists. Each contact movement initiates the next, becoming quite violent and aggressive, almost as if their bodies are working against each other, contrasting the previous lift work. However, this conflict creates an exciting and inspiring tension between the two, which shows Pite’s technique of exploring opposing dynamics within the body to be brilliantly effective. The repetition of sudden sparks of unison between the dancers bring the duo together with electrifying dynamics, as the male dancer slides across the stage on his feet before being rekindled with his partner in a swooping catch around her waist. This powerful and striking way of moving shows contrast to the delicate, sensitive and melting transitions in the beginning of ‘Flight Pattern’, however is similar to the intense and erratic dynamics which appear towards the end of the piece, where the desperation and fear of the refugees is explored.

Suddenly, the pair are interrupted with a unique and shocking way to change the dancers on stage, as a new duet run on with fierceness and determination, showing the lack of freedom and need to escape from the pressures of our modern world. Each duet builds in passion and emotion and lifts become more daring and impressive as the energy between the dancers grows.

The Season’s Canon leaves the audience breathless and astounded by the phenomenal level of intricacy and complexity in this neoclassical style of choreography, gripped by ending of the piece, as the female dancer fearlessly launches herself forwards and is caught by her partner.

In text (Fjord Review): Larine, Jade. “Enigmatic Ode to Nature.” Fjord Review, 28 Feb. 2019, https://www.fjordreview.com/crystal-pite-seasons-canon-paris-opera-ballet/