Dancing Water

Last night I was invited to a performance at the Chen Dance Center.

The evening started with interactive exhibits, including one with my favorite new instrument, the Chinese Singing Fountain bowl. Check out BenCSTJQ from Youtube’s demonstration of how it works, at around the 32 second mark you can see the water dancing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WByIUBMNrI

The Dance Center runs this particular Tea House performance asking the audience to imagine that they are living in the days before internet, texting, and “reliable” newspapers, and that the Tea House is THE place to get the scoop. To encourage this atmosphere, there were lots of refreshments, including in between the seats.



The most arresting dance was one where the artists had their hands shoved deep in their pockets, which seemed to impede their movements. i.e. they could not get the proper momentum to jump without their arms, and rising from the floor involved uncomfortable fits and twists. During the performance I kept wishing for them that they would only just lift their hands from their pockets so that they could perform better. But when they finally lifted their arms out of their hiding places, they were horrified by the sight of their spread-fingered hands and they ran off stage. Be careful of what you wish for, or what others wish for you?