Kurt Jooss The Green Table And Alvin Ailey's The Revelations

Kurt Jooss’ “The Green Table” and Alvin Ailey’s “The Revelations” are both over half a century old and still remains to this day one of the most timeless masterpieces of dance in history. Their elaborate combinational display of music, dance, and rhythm was able to tell us a story without the use of any words. This collaborative combination was able to create a powerful and insightful perspective on what they were trying to articulate. The revelations captured the pain, determination, and valour of the African Americans at the time. Ailey used a very religious, divine, and prayerful mood and point of view throughout the whole dance. While The Green Table aimed at showing people how futile war is and how it affects people and society. Jooss used the satirical and cynical perspective, as well as the method of expressionism. In the intro scene; the first part “Pilgrim of
Standard Bearer is dressed in white, symbolizing purity of purpose; he creates fluid circular movements with his flag. The whipping sound of the flag adds a little extra to the musical score. The Young Soldiers are very lifeless, almost in trance and hypnotic repetition. The Old Soldier is more deliberate and slower in his walk, stopping in his actions showing a hesitancy to be driven by "Death." As the soldiers approach the gateway made for them by "Death" their bodies seem to lose all their strength. The Woman, who is dressed in red, exits through the gate with the soldiers. The Profiteer, who, I noticed is the only other dancer, besides The Gentlemen in Black who wears gloves, greets "Death" in a friendly manner, but refuses to enter his gate. To me, his actions, his sly and smooth movements, and his gloves symbolize that he wishes to never actively participate in the war, but only to profit by it. This scene signifies the separation of loved