By Rachel Luchmun
The scene was simply set. In the center, a big screen. To the left and right, the musicians were set up. The aim of the show was to mix music with visuals to recreate the experience of viewing Earth from space, as well as to create an emotional bond between viewers and Earth (for more information about Bella Gaia’s conception and aim, see Q & A with Kenji Williams *link*). According to audience opinion after the show, it did not disappoint.
“[It was] beautiful,” said Nancy Baran, audience member. “It was neat to see all the information visually.”
Baran’s husband Steve added that Bella Gaia’s attraction is not just its beauty.
“It’s depressing,” Steve Baran said. “[Earth is] beautiful, but you don’t notice [the bad things happening to Earth] until you move far enough. The music enhances the whole experience.”
While Bella Gaia’s main acclaim comes from its recreation of an outer-space voyage, the show also touches on environmental issues such as forest fires, plastic pollution in the oceans, the melting ice caps and rising sea level, oil spills, and world gas consumption. This is achieved through graphs and time-lapse images.
Additionally, different cultures are represented through images, music and sometimes dances. The aim, stated on the screen, is to show the human expressions of the living universe cross culturally. Traditional dancing (belly-dancing as well as Indian dance) and musical instrument (the nay, a middle-eastern type of flute, and the koto, a Japanese stringed instrument) were performed live on stage. For some, this was the best part of the show.
“It was a great show, but I especially loved the Japanese koto part,” said Kyle Duffin, audience member. “I loved watching the player – I think I paid more attention to her than to the images at that point.”
The performers were: Kenji Williams (director, composer, violinist); Yumi Kurosawa (koto player, composer, improviser, computer sound); Deep Singh (table, percussion, voice); Lety ElNaggar (saxophone, nay); Kristin Hoffman (voice, keyboard); Irina Akulenko and Läle Sayoko (dance).
The experience was an enjoyable one for both the audience and the performers. After the show, Kenji Williams said his experience was positive.
“It was great,” Williams said. “Great audience, top notch place. I think this is the biggest screen we’ve ever performed on.”
Bella Gaia was partly sponsored by the college’s Student Sustainability Committee. In an address before the start of the show, president Kevin Clark said he hoped it would contribute to improving sustainability efforts.
More information on Bella Gaia is available at www.bellagaia.com. The show’s next performance is in St. Joseph, Min., on November 5.
Contact Rachel Luchmun, staff reporter, at rluchmun@jccc.edu.
Great Article.
I would love to have been able to see the show.
It sounds like a beautiful one.
Thanks for the excellent description of the events though.