Nicole Seiler's dance performance, Ningyo, attempts to look at the myth of the mermaid from a different perspective. Is the mythical creature as friendly as popular culture portrays her or is she a harbinger of doom? The choreographer wants you to decide
Nicole Seiler's dance performance, Ningyo, attempts to look at the myth of the mermaid from a different perspective. Is the mythical creature as friendly as popular culture portrays her or is she a harbinger of doom? The choreographer wants you to decide
The idea of a mermaid being a friendly creature, who lives a happy life in the bottom of the ocean and occasionally comes to the shore seeking human help or rescuing an unlucky sailor, is so firmly entrenched in our minds that we find it difficult to think of the half-fish, half-human form as a temptress. Yet, based on ancient mythology where the mermaid was described as a dangerous creature seducing with her beauty and song, choreographer Nicole Seiler steadily busts the popular myth.
The performance gets its name from the Japanese term Ningyo, which
means fish in human form
"In some myths, mermaids are beautiful while in others they are monstrous. I was fascinated with this character because of her various facets. I liked the Japanese mermaid legend in which the mermaid is a monster and dangerous," says Seiler. The performance also gets its name from the Japanese term Ningyo, which means fish in human form. In essence, Seiler says the piece also questions beliefs related to beauty ufffd the mermaid might be beautiful but she's also a seductress.
The three-member creative team ufffd Seiler, dancer Chiharu Mamiya and DJ Letizia Renzini ufffd put together an improvisa-tional performance that includes live music and video projections. "The three media communicate and underline the mermaid's dual personality. Music underlines the atmospheres created by the dance and video projections.
The sounds, which are created live, oscillate between delicate nuances and deadening beats. The music and dance develop and form a symbiosis," Seiler explains, while speaking about the style of the performance.
Despite playing with myriad themes, Seiler does not believe in restricting the scope of the performance by jotting down a particular message.
"There are many possibilities to read a performance like Ningyo and I'd like to invite each spectator to interpret the piece individually. I still hope that I can pass on some kind of an atmosphere that I found in the mermaid legends, which I've tried to recreate in the piece. I would like to take the audience on a journey through the different aspects of the mermaid legends that exist all over the world," says the 40 year-old.
ADVERTISEMENT
On February 2 and 3, 7.30 pm
At Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point. Call 22824567
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
