The Olympics are over, but it’s not too late to see medal-winning gymnasts. This time they won’t just be on television, they’ll be at the Hult Center.
Eighteen Olympic medal-winning members of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation were brought together in 1998 by Pantene to form “Aeros.” What the company intended was to publicize a new hair product, but the gymnasts and choreographers didn’t stop there. They took their creation of gymnastic skills with music, costumes and choreography, and made it into a new art form.
What exactly the group does is ambiguous. Much of it looks like a flashed-up gymnastics floor exercise with multiple people. At times, it seems to include elements of movement taken from classical dance styles. However, the show also brings into play different apparatuses for the performers to work with.
The group is choreographed by Americans Daniel Ezralow, David Parsons and Moses Pendleton. Among the three, almost no avenue of dance performance has been untouched. From music videos by U2, Sting and Prince, to Olympic ceremonies, to scenes from the film “Earth Girls are Easy,” to the Academy Awards.
The performance industry has been veering toward a more abstract interpretation of dance performance as shown by the recent popularity of acts such as “Stomp” and “Cirque du Soleil.” “Aeros” would seem to have come along at the perfect time for new ideas. While hesitant to make comparisons, company manager Matilda Hohensee sees the similarities of audiences.
“It’s a little more hard hitting than ‘Cirque,’” Hohensee said. “It’s more in your face like ‘Stomp.’”
Those similarities may increase now that “Aeros” has brought the two co-creators of “Stomp” on board with the company on tour. The show, which started touring Oct. 3, is still in a state of change. While Hohensee was careful to convey that the show is very polished and professional, it isn’t set in stone.
“It’s exiting because the show is changing every night,” Hohensee said.
Other components of the show include the music by Two Tall Guys Music Lab, who most notably composed and performed the music for USA Network’s series “La Femme Nikita.” The costumes for the show are colorful but minimal.
“The performers have such beautiful bodies, so we’re enjoying playing that up,” Hohensee said.
Hohensee said the performance does have some sensual tones. One piece in particular between two of the performers is especially romantic. Nevertheless, she maintains that the show is great for all types of audiences.
Karm Hagedorn, events manager for the Hult Center, said she is very excited to feature “Aeros,” especially because of the new nature of this performance.
“I think that people are ready for the blurring of the lines between the dance and the sport,” Hagedorn said.
Natalie Schoof, programming assistant at the Hult Center, said that the experimental nature of the performance is what draws people to the show.
“The choreographers are trying to give gymnastics a more human element,” Schoof said.
“Aeros” will play one night only on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Hult Center, the EMU ticket office and online at www.hultcenter.org/online.htm or by phone at 682-5000.