By
Lisa Lucas
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA Museum of Art exhibit comes to life with dance show
Considered to be art in animation, "Heritage of Earth," a dance show inspired by the work of artist Robert Stackhouse, will bring a little bit of Minoan culture to the UA Sunday.
The show was choreographed by John Wilson, a professor of dance for 25 years at the University of Arizona. The piece has been in progress for about a year and a half, and the dancers have been preparing for the show since early Fall.
A modern piece inspired by Wilson's recent trip to Crete, the show will portray ancient Minoan culture.
"The inspiration was very specifically from the art - archeological history and art of Minoan culture," Wilson said.
This will be Wilson's 96th career ballet. He will retire at the end of the semester.
"This is really kind of my farewell piece because I'll be retiring in June," Wilson said. "Snakes, bulls and beautiful dancers."
The four-part dance will be condensed to two parts for this performance. The show will be performed in its entirety on April 6-7 in Crowder Hall.
UA senior and dancer Matt Henley, who will graduate in May with a BFA in dance and a BA in religious studies, described the performance as "visually captivating," with "figures and rhythms pulled from Minoan culture."
He added that "because the performance is in conjunction with the opening (of the Robert Stackhouse exhibit), the audience will be able to see the beautiful works of art in the exhibit, then immediately watch Dr. Wilson's animated version of the same art."
After describing how it connects to Stackhouses's exhibit, Henley gave a detailed description of the performance.
"(The performance) begins with a double duet, two men and two women who are the Bull Vaulters," he said. "In this section you can see figures pulled straight from paintings found on Minoan pottery, as well as an excitingly rhythmic folk dance."
The second section of the piece centers around Snake Priestesses, which Henley described as "a fast-paced, almost ecstatic dance, that has an almost breath-taking clapping section."
Wilson and Henley agreed that the cast of the show worked incredibly well together.
"The other dancers in this work are not only technically proficient, but they (also) have the artistic integrity to bring depth and beauty to the performance," Henley said. "I have immensely enjoyed working with the cast."
Henley also said that he holds Wilson in highest regard as both a professor and choreographer.
"Often choreographers are extremely specific on how you should, as a dancer, execute their movement," he said. "(Wilson) works by giving you a concept, an outline of what he wants, and then lets you develop that idea so that, as a dancer, you can take ownership of the final product."
The music for "Heritage of Earth" was composed and created by professor of music Carrol McLaughlin. Wilson and McLaughlin have worked together before, but Wilson was especially complimentary of this composition.
"She's composed this stunning music for 14 harps and percussion," he said. "Wow."
Wilson said he intends for the show to promote a sense of artistic awareness of and curiosity about Minoan culture. He said he wants the audience to leave feeling "that they have experienced something of the ancient."
"It's a hair-raiser," Wilson said. "The live, new music and new dance - I'm just really thrilled about it."
