Siobhan Davies

Siobhan Davies

Review

White Bird Featherless

The dance White Bird Featherless choreographed by Siobhan Davies in 1992, was a dance piece performed by 6 dancers based on 18th century courtship rituals of giving fruit as a sign of sexual advances (ref). Performed all over, the dance which was set on a chequered board like floor, with a black background and the dancers wearing white had a contrast to it. The floor was made chequered by lighting which changed throughout the piece, which made it stand out against the background as did the dancers stand out against both. This made you notice the dancers more.

 The dance began with four dancers moving on the stage, sometimes moving in unison, dancing sequences while passing around fruit. When these dancers froze two other dancers entered the stage and took over. the dancers relationships to one another was very strong, it was also strong to the fruit they moved gracefully using contact in places needed, showing the connection between them both.  At times the movements were sharp and fasted depending on the music given. In this piece I saw different little relationships built.

The instrument used was a piano which was played very sharply making screeching noises as if the keys were just being pressed without a rythematic tune. Throughout the piece the dancer move in accordance to the music, entering and exiting the stage at different times. If the music speeds up then so do the dancers and the same if the music slows down. The dancers use the qualities of repetition, contact, stillness, little pauses, canons, unison and the use of different directions. I believe these attributes in the dance piece were effective because it allows you to appreciate the movement more, as it elaborates the movements.      

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