In aerial silk performances, artists grace the floor and nimbly climb the timid heights of the silk, appearing as though gravity were merely a suggestion, not reality.
This version of dance and theater met mid-air Tuesday as the LSU Lab Theatre Season premiered “In Between” in the Music and Dramatic Arts Building. The movements expressed through aerial silk exhibit various emotions and realities of human nature.
“In Between,” a multifaceted physical performance, explores humanity through the abstract representation of daily life. Told through dance and aerial movements, the performance embraced the “in between” of reality and fantasy, as well as chaos and tranquility.
The University is one of the only schools in the region that offers aerial silk classes. Ashley Gieg, choreographer and University alumna, said the closest school that practices the art form is Florida State University.
Gieg said Nicholas Erickson, associate theater professor, brought aerial silks to the University in 2003.
“It’s very rare for a university supporting an aerial silk program, especially in the South,” Gieg said. “The more people hear about aerial silk performances, the bigger it becomes at LSU.”
Preparing for the performance that mirrored the physical intensity of acts seen in “Cirque du Soleil” differed from traditional theatrical rehearsals, director Ryann Pinkerton said.
“In Between” rehearsals are more difficult than classic theater because of the necessary physical training and conditioning, Pinkerton said.
Michael Scott, performance theater senior, is an aerialist for the performance. Scott’s background in powerlifting enabled him to lift the girls while mid-air on the silks and perform floor gymnastics.
“Every member of the cast contributed to ‘In Between’ with their different backgrounds in movement skills, ranging from ballet, dance, martial arts and powerlifting,” Scott said.
  Gallery: Aerial Entertainment
 
Madison Holcomb, theater performance sophomore, said a large aspect of preparing for aerial silk performances is physical conditioning for climbing and performing on the hanging silks.
“I had 16 years of dance experience but no upper body strength, so the process was initially overwhelming, but everyone was encouraging,” Holcomb said. “Climbing helped build body strength, as well.”
Holcomb said learning skills on the silks was repetitive, but each strength leads to another equally fun but challenging skill that pushed the performers.
  Video: “In Between” Performance
 
“In Between” has no script or dialogue, so the movements and physicality of the actors were imperative for the story, Gieg said.
The rehearsing began at the end of November with extensive practices lasting two hours a day, five days a week, Gieg said.
“I listened to the music to see how movements would go,” Gieg said. “Then we choose moves that look best on the different body type.”
The movements chosen for female cast members were based on flexibility in motion, according to Gieg. The male movements centered on the power and overall strength of their bodies, describing their movements in an almost animalistic way.
“The greatest part of ‘In Between’ is it’s a show for everyone. Ages ranging from 4 to 84 would have good time watching. It’s a spectacle you don’t see anywhere close to Baton Rouge,” Gieg said. “Exciting and fun, it’s a show where everyone can walk away with something different.”
“In Between’s” stream of consciousness can be interpreted in different ways by different people, meaning everyone can take something new from the performance, Pinkerton said.
“It is an interpretive story that portrays the limbo between real life and fantasy and everything people experience on a daily basis,” Pinkerton said.
“In Between” runs in the Music and Dramatic Arts Building’s movement studio Jan. 25 to 28 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., and Jan. 30 at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. For more information, visit theatre.lsu.edu.
 
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Contact Jeanne Lyons at [email protected]