BY LAUREN WAGLAND
Watching Le
Patin Libre perform was an incredible experience one much like
encountering a flock of birds glide into the the freedom of the sky. The 5
performers each bringing an individual presence when entering the clean slate
of ice, seeming to act as one moving effortlessly around the ice like a
pendulum clock arms swinging from side to side with refined seamless speed.
Filling the surface with patterns and designs, bringing an
aspects of playing or competing with the audience each one reacting off each
other inviting the audience to feel included. Introducing themselves though
their skating, individually showing there character and style. Even though the
ice and weather was cold they keep your full attention, eyes dazed at the
swiftness of their performance so much that it makes you want to watch it all
over again.
There are some humorous parts, bits wear you are filled with
nervous tension as they leap, turn and dance across the ice. By the end of the
piece the once clean slate of ice now consists of many configurations and
trails, sliced, slashed segments of ice. The blue and pink lights enhance the
amazing surrounding architecture of Somerset House contrasting with the white,
grey and yellow of the costumes. The lighting making the piece sometimes
unreal, bold, dark, cold faced figures advancing towards you then a delicate
skater drifting across the surface of the ice. The sounds created by the skates
cutting and slicing though the ice creating percussion as well as movement and
the patterns curved into the ice each aspect brought something to an
inspiration for performance.
The performance length was just right, suiting the weather
perfectly on the day I happened to watch it. However the only criticism I might
have for future performances is the length, which I think should be extended or
stretch out when being performed in inside spaces or warmer temperatures. Apart
from this there is nothing I disliked about the performance and I would highly
recommend it to anyone. From watching the Vertical it gave me a completely
different idea of how two art forms can be made into one seamless piece not
even that the ice – skating and dancing came out at different parts but they
seemed to combine the two so well that it created a new art form. What also
interested me and inspired me was the use of personality that came though with
in the performance from each artist. How they portrayed themselves though out
the dance is something that I really want to look into and bring into my work a
so feel it brings the audience so much closer to the piece and leaves them
feeling like they actually know who was on the stage not just a butch of artists
performing a piece to entertain an audience.
