Before the piece starts a tiny blonde with a big smile asks the audience to each blow up a balloon and throw the balloon on stage when she says ‘Now’. Surprised, the audience at once gives its full attention to the little dancer on stage.
 
Unsure how large to blow their balloon or whether or not o tie a knot on it the they look towards their host for guidance, but she has moved on to a gripping narrative in which she plays four different characters. Long monologues can be an effort to follow, but not this one. Olivia jumps from one character to the next with boundless energy, yet full of grace. The lights, music and props are cleverly co-ordinated to animate the switches. The narrative about a desired woman’s memories of her father was both serious and comical at the same time. The audience is captivated, balloons in their laps, waiting for their moment to bombard the stage.
 
Olivia’s monologue ends, she dons more skin in a slick outfit change, and yes, keeps those black pumps on. She begins to delve into movement and at once an energetic burst of floor work smooth as silk takes off. It is time! She prompts us to throw our balloons. Black balloons fill the stage as she flies and rolls through her new obstacle course. The frequent popping only heightens the intensity of this unleashed physicality. It carries some symbolism of release of emotions. The piece goes out with a comical image; a familiar seductive female silhouette, this time with added voluptuousness thanks to two balloons at chest level.
 
Olivia knows how to plan a piece on a macro and micro level. The scenes were unexpected and appropriate in length never offering a boring moment. More importantly she showed off her intelligence and talent. She presented a deeper message, she made people laugh, she involved the audience, she gave everything in her performance and she danced like an angel.

Horma

Choreographer: Olivia Court Mesa

Intima Dance Festival
6th  till 8th of July 2012
Tmuna