Éowyn Emerald & Dancers (Portland, OR) – Will You Take This Balloon
WEEKEND 1: Choreographer Éowyn Emerald’s Will You Take This Balloon is built around three duets performed by 4 dancers. This work explores the complexities of human relationships and interconnection while revealing the beauty and vulnerability of giving yourself to another person. When individually broken up each duet has it’s own motive and meaning.
BIO
Since graduating from UNCSA and moving to Portland, Éowyn Emerald has been creating work locally and has had the opportunity to work with numerous schools, companies, and the unique experience of assisting Sylvain Emard when he re-set his work Le Grand Continental for White Bird and 160 of their dance-loving subscribers. Éowyn has received a NFAA A.R.T.S. award for choreography and was awarded a Regional Dance America Monticello award and scholarship for her work. She was recently selected by The Times of London as “a talent to watch.”
PERFORMANCE SYNOPSIS
A duet can be one of the most powerful and intimately revealing events in dance for performer, choreographer, and audience alike. By revealing a relationship in performance, one opens a door that most people have walked through many times throughout their life. It invites the audience to find parallels to their own stories and discover the power of the relationships that unite us.
Part 1: Force of will meets the strength of the human body in “Will You” a dynamic duet that explores the balance between power and love. Utilizing unconventional partnering and dynamic movement, this cold, calculating, and emotionally riveting work balances the endeavor for dominance with an inner longing to be loved unconditionally.
Part 2: Fluid, enticing, and optimistic, “Balloon” is a captivating duet that captures the grace and vulnerability of falling in love over and over again. “Balloon” is an exploration into the idea of falling in love at first sight. Its goal is to be effortless and fluid in its partnering and movement quality. Calming and sinuous the movement takes the watcher on an optimistic and engaging journey through the eyes of a young couple.
Part 3: Sexual driven and risk taking imagery “Take This” explores the dark side of when ones loyalty wavers and commitments are challenged.