Dance takes to the 'River'

A random mixture of sights, sounds and smells surround you as you pass through the tunnel-like pathway of trees and foliage that comprise the Medical Center entrance to the Nichols Arboretum. All of your senses are exercised as you hear the crunch of gravel under your shoes, interspersed with he subtle movements of the forest.

Barely do you perceive the wind's touches upon your skin, before you realize that you are in the company of something that contains just as much life and activity as the land: the river. It is just such a medium with its constantly present yet transient nature which drew movement artists Eiko and Koma to it as the setting of their work aptly titled, "River."

Courtesy of The University Musical Society Eiko and Koma's "River" performance will take place tomorrow at Nichols Arboretum.

"River" will be Eiko and Koma's University Musical Society debut, when they perform where the Huron River passes through the Arb tomorrow and on Saturday.

The performance is one of more than 20 works created by this Japanese husband and wife team, whose theatrical performances incorporate several movements in the world of dance and theatre.

Although born in Japan, the couple has lived in the United States for more than 20 years. Eiko and Koma have been together as as exclusive and independent artists since 1972 in Tokyo, Japan, and have been influenced by characteristics of the Japanese avant-garde theatrical movement in the '60s and the Neuer Tanz German modern dance movement in the '70s.

Their creations bear the closest connection to German Expressionism and hold as their subject various aspects of the environment and life. Their work sets forth the notion that nature is not so narrowly defined as one may think.

While the couple perform only their own choreography, they have worked in collaboration with composers such as Somei Satoh and have created pieces for a number of dance companies, including Pittsburgh's Dance Alloy.

Their rich and fruitful contribution to the artistic arena has led to their reception of many awards and honors. Most prominently, Eiko and Koma were named the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellows for 1984 and were awarded the first Mac Arthur "Genius" grant ever bestowed upon collaborators in 1996, for "two exceptionally creative people who work as one."

"River" comprises the third piece in Eiko and Koma's Environmental Trilogy, with "Land" (1991) and "Wind" (1993) being the first two. In this installment, the artists will combine several elements, namely film, dance and music, to present a production which blurs the separation between the human body and the environment.

The performance will begin at dusk, and will start with a short film, followed by Eiko and Koma's slow but deliberate procession down the river.

Using incremental movements, the couple's bodies are often morphed into definite sculptural entities. While production incorporates unnatural elements such as stage light and traditional Japanese music, the artists mainly emphasize becoming completely joined to the river, not as human trespassers, but as welcomed inhabitants.

Koma states that their inspiration for "River" stems from "nature, whether from the ducks which dry themselves along the river's bank or the movement of a leaf downstream in the river." He also emphasizes that while he and his wife are interested in social movement and human emotions, those are their main objectives of their performance.

Koma highlights the unique qualities that define their performance, and extends a warm welcome for all to view their work. He underscores the idiosyncrasy of each rendition, where "much depends on the characteristics of the river, especially the current speed."

And finally, he reminds us that it is the all-important source and setting of their work, namely nature, which "provides a great experience where the audience and the performers can share the same things, such as sounds, breezes and movements of the clouds."

09-10-98