Catapult tells a story by using dance and body transformation to produce shadow
silhouettes of the world. I saw Catapult as a finalist on the Television show America's Got
Talent where Howard Stern called them a “million dollar act.” I was excited to
be “catapulted” into their imaginary universe where they create dancing shadows of landscapes, animals, and objects by only using the human body and a few props.
It’s hard for me to resist the urge to play in the path of a light beam and make hand shadows. My skills however are limited to creating a hopping bunny
or butterfly that I often used to entertain my son during his childhood years.
Catapult puts shadows on steroids. Eight dancers moving behind a screen morphed into a continuous wave of images. Opening with the classical sound of Antonio Vivaldi, the dancers took us on a ride through the “Four Seasons.” Bodies formed: tulips, caterpillars and frogs (spring), swimmers, a huge jelly fish and other ocean creatures (summer), jack o’ lanterns and falling leaves (autumn) snowflakes and ice-skaters (winter). They amazed as they held the images for a few seconds and then gracefully broke away revealing how the human body formed the scene. This produced frequent low humming audience “ah” (watch here).
Catapult puts shadows on steroids. Eight dancers moving behind a screen morphed into a continuous wave of images. Opening with the classical sound of Antonio Vivaldi, the dancers took us on a ride through the “Four Seasons.” Bodies formed: tulips, caterpillars and frogs (spring), swimmers, a huge jelly fish and other ocean creatures (summer), jack o’ lanterns and falling leaves (autumn) snowflakes and ice-skaters (winter). They amazed as they held the images for a few seconds and then gracefully broke away revealing how the human body formed the scene. This produced frequent low humming audience “ah” (watch here).
The motion was non- stop in the humorous piece “Spy” which was danced to jazz and hip hop. “Spy” projected the story of a house
wife by day who lived the double life
of an agent encountering fights, car
chases and other danger.
The silhouettes were reversed in “Angel Heart.” Dancers moved in front of the screen and were outlined in waves of light producing a psychedelic effect.
My favorite was “Travel” that took
off with a plane ride to the Middle East, Egypt, Paris’ Eiffel Tower and ended with a rocket to the moon. “Encore,” concluded the first half of the show with a fast paced
collage of prior danced images causing outbursts of audience applause.
A narrated fairy tale encompassed the second half. “Mouzart” introduced Mozart as a child prodigy, his genius sister and a
musical mouse. Although
creative, it seemed to drag following
the hyped motion of the first half. "Mouzart " might have been better suited
as a stand- a- lone piece and would be especially delightful for children.
Catapult does just
that, hurls you through an imaginary world of shadow dance. It gives adults a feeling of elation and surprise like a child seeing something for the first time. It's a playful and lighthearted diverse universe of dance and
shadows that makes you laugh, tells a story and amazes.
( "Catapult:The Amazing Magic of Shadow and Dance" was part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's assorted entertainment programs of music, comedy and dance offered in the 2019-2020 season of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series. For more on this series go here.)
Spiritual Reflection
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)
( "Catapult:The Amazing Magic of Shadow and Dance" was part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's assorted entertainment programs of music, comedy and dance offered in the 2019-2020 season of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series. For more on this series go here.)
Spiritual Reflection
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)
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