Plains Daybreak Reflection

Plains Daybreak Reflection The performance of Plains Daybreak was held at the Harrison Theatre in San Marcos, Texas. The theatre was inside of the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University. The theatre was smaller than I expected, but it gave an intimate setting for the show that was taking place. The intimacy contributed to the atmosphere and made me feel closer to the performances. As a viewer, I tend to have an open mind while participating in artistic showcases. I am intrigued by abstract art. I prefer modern and contemporary dance pieces that tell a story, or have a concept and leave me with questions or thoughts afterwards. Plains Daybreak was a dance concert piece created by Erick Hawkins The piece was intended to showcase a
The music was unusual, yet fitting to the movements that were taking place. The lighting combined with the stage set gave me a feeling of being brought back to the first day on earth. There was mystical, mythical feeling about the opening music and scene. I was intrigued by the moon like props. When the first dancer came out, I felt like I was being taken to another realm. There was still something quite familiar. The costuming added to the otherworldly feeling of the piece. The headdress pieces were beautifully crafted. I could tell what animals were being represented, although some of them weren’t as definite as other character costumes that I have seen in the past. To add to the dreamlike aspect of the piece, there was also a sense of mystery. There were parts throughout the dance that were illusive, however this is what kept me drawn in. I enjoyed feeling like I was being taken from this reality to another while observing Plains
In the lecture from class, Louis Kavouras mentioned that Erick Hawkins wanted to give the viewers abstractions in order to see the spirituals. There wasn’t a clear, linear story line to follow. I noticed that as the piece went on, I had to embrace those abstractions in order to get a meaning for myself. I recognized a Metanarrative throughout the dance for myself. There was always something that I could relate to, yet it wasn’t something that I could put my finger on. In addition to the stories abstraction, the music had its own abstract sounds. Louis also mentioned that Erick Hawkins like to used mixed meters. The mixed meters within the music gave even more of an obscure feature to the piece. Lastly, the choreographed movements and steps by the dancers, had its own abstract aspects. Hawkins Choreography was not like other Modern Dance works that I have seen before. The abstract choreography was undoubtedly captivated. Seeing shapes and lines that I don’t usually get to see, made me appreciate the choreography in its