DANCE RESPONSE #2 - Writing about 7th Sense

In watching Wen Wei's latest creation, 7th Sense on Saturday night at the Playhouse, I experienced a myriad of sensations, thoughts and curiosities about the world that he and the dancers created for us that evening.  At times I felt connected and invited into the world that the dancers were in and at other moments I felt completely cutoff from them and felt frustrated at the notion of wanting to be let in and not being allowed in.  Most of all at the end of the piece I was left wondering, where the dancers were in time and space and what they were searching for.  

On a technical level, I experienced that the dancers were precise, direct and exquisite in their execution of movements and clarity of articulation in space. They made the playhouse stage seem ginormous, and even though I was aware they were dancing to their fullest capacity, the design of the space still occurred like it was bigger than them and like they were lost in it somehow, trying to find their way through it by the use of their senses.

The first half of the program zipped by so much that I was shocked when the curtain closed and was left wanting to come back for more. The second half pulled me in and out of connection to the piece.  I was curious about a theme of Spanish guitar like music that came in, in the second half and wondered how it connected to the piece and the 7th sense. I let that thought go willingly as what became more present for me were the dynamic connections between the dancers and the attention and intention they committed themselves to for the remainder of the piece.

I remember thinking often that it was surprising and nice to see such a new mix of dancers to the stage and that Vancouver is blessed with some of the most dedicated and cutting edge talent. We are one lucky city to see such deep, articulate, trained and committed dancers who desire to connect and share themselves willingly with audiences.  

When I left the theater, I felt like I had more questions than answers about the world and the piece, but yet I knew inside that that is the point of art, to invite you to inquire within about life, living, connection, disconnection, desire and why the heck we are all here on the same planet. Maybe it is to find out what our 7th sense is after all?