Fringe blog on True Identity

While waiting for the doors to the show to open, I read the flyer given to me – True Identity is presented by Firefall Dance Theatre and the creator and choreographer of this performance is Stephanie Riner. The dancers in this performance included Magdalena Olesiak, Julia Richards, Jennifer Shoreman, Lydia Wathen, Cami Zook, Jenny Braun, Terri Cupp and Andrea Eberhart.

As we filed into the hall, we got stamped on our hand with a bar code that had the word “Priceless” at the bottom of it. The show started with the song “Who Are You” by The Who. Meanwhile, Katy Kessler, the artist was at a corner starting to paint a blank canvas. She painted as the dancers danced. During the change of clothes and interval between the dance sequences, the Narrator Susan Yeagy addressed the audience with questions of Identity, Who are you? Who am I? For example, when we are asked in introductions, we tell people what we do, but the other person does not know who we are inside, i.e. our true identity. There was a dance sequence called “Bus Driver” – to illustrate, this bus driver could also be a writer, who takes the scenes he sees on his driving route as materials for his book for example. But we only see him as the driver on the outside. I love it when she said “We are human beings, not human doings.”

Throughout the dance performance, during the intervals, the audience was taken on a journey with questions of our perception of “who are we”, the labeling and stereotyping, are we limiting ourselves by this labeling, either given by others or by ourselves; and then slowing moving on to explore our true identity through breakaway from these labels; changing as we explore ourselves, with support and finally freedom to be who we really are – free from being labeled, stereotyped, pigeonholed..to be truly free to be who we really are. And we see this journey through the dance interpretation accompanied by catchy music. I find myself tapping to the music. The movements were forceful at certain times – to convey the feelings, smooth at others and the dancers were graceful and expressive as they dance, prance, gyrate, twirl all over the stage. Initially, I glanced over to the artist once in awhile to see the painting unfold, but as the performance continued, I was so entranced by the dancing that I forget to look over to the painter, it was only at the end of the show when the cast took a bow, that my eyes went back to the artist and her finished work. A beautiful picture emerged.

Katy Kessler, the Artist with her finished painting.

The painting would be auctioned off to the highest bidder if the audience would like to bid on it. A different painting is done at each of the six performances and those paintings are also being sold to the highest bidder. Just for fun, I put in a bid for this one.

I wanted to see this show because of the subject matter. I agree with the Narrator, Susan that we are defined by what we do and not who we are. It's like our profession/job is the first thing a stranger sees because the question posed is "What do you do?" So we are a marketing associate, an atttorney etc. But surely we are more than that..a mother, father, brother, sister, painter, musician, gardener etc. Anyway, I really wanted to see how this subject is interpreted especially through dance. It's complicated as it is to define true identity but to do it with media such as dance ought to be interesting, if not fascinating. I was not disappointed. I love the show!

Venue, dates and times:
The Earth House
Saturday 8/29/09 – 9pm
Sunday 8/30/09 – 3pm