Footlights Performance
On Wednesday, February 18th Mosaic students had the opportunity to experience Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. Lily Cai melds ancient Chinese dance with modern dance technique.
At the Footlights performance, students observed ribbon dancing, court dances of the ancient dynasties, and contemporary dance fused with traditional Chinese movement. During the performance, students had the chance to try out basic ribbon dance techniques such as the "figure eight" and correct posture for arms and torsos. The photos display some of the students in action, exploring space and speed with ribbon play.
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Masters Class
Following the Footlights performance, Mosaic students were invited to stay and attend a Masters Class with the company. The class was focused on the technique of ribbon dancing. Students were introduced to techniques such as "figure eight", "swirling", and "fire windmill". Students were also taught proper posture, learning how to manipulate their abdominal muscles in order to propel energy into their limbs. They also discovered how to hold their arms correctly, in order to manipulate the ribbons with correct force. Once students developed enough skills, they were given opportunities of "improv", playing with the technique and adding in personal style. During a culminating "across the floor" activity, students performed their newly discovered technique and shared out for one another.
