GHOST DANCES, by christopher bruce

Christopher Bruce is one of the UK's leading choreographers and is currently Artistic Director of Rambert Dance Company, having worked in the past with what is now English National Ballet and Houston Ballet, among others.

Ghost Dances

   

Ghost Dance was choreographed by Christopher Bruce, based around the innocent of South America and the Political issues of Pinochet’s regime. From the time of the Spanish conquest many people were tortured and killed for being too outspoken.

Through this dance Christopher has captured the continuous devastation of the political oppression of that time and how the ingenuous lived and their courage in the face of hardship.

Christopher has said to have created his theme from the Day of the Dead, the thrilling distinctive, rhythmic movements performed to haunting South American folk music show the symbolic dance movements as to convey the innocent people of South America down the ages.  

 

This beginning dance sequence of three ghost figures appears to be one of the most remembered parts for of the whole performance, the way in which the ghosts move generates this sinister atmosphere that you can’t get out of your head.

Christopher’s own reflection of social and political views of the situation is shown on how he represents and pursues the people in the story.

The way he has created a deep impact for the viewers in tackling difficult issues within this story made it memorable and exciting, the symbolising the Spanish Pinochet as ghostly figures moving in a dead like way is a great artistic view on the people who murdered the innocent in America.

The simple image of a ghost dancer mixed with the folk music in the background produces a terrifying picture and makes you feel anxious. Many old religions use this simple and naive image of skeletons as symbols or figures for their belief, it becomes visible that Christopher was inspired by the Day of the Dead and how people celebrate their past loved ones by painting their faces to represent a skeletal image. The fact that these religious acts have been taking place for many years to celebrate death, are then used to create the perception of sinister human beings killing guiltless people for this dance performance.

 

From looking at the costumes and without being told what they signify in this dance it wouldn’t register that they are the Spanish in this story, maybe that was the choreographer’s intentions. The flimsy lifeless moves used and the costumes the conclusion that these people represent death and possibly evil.

The costumes for these ghostly figures appear to develop the mood and create a daunting atmosphere.

The skull Bolivian masks cover the full face hiding the person underneath completely; they have dark, hollow eye sockets that create the look of emptiness inside them.  

Not knowing the identity of who is behind this devil like mask makes creates an uneasy feeling as you look at their evil grin.

Diablada / Bolivian masks represent the devil in religious ceremonies, these masks capture the underworld figure and are used in different dances for different cultures. A religious view of these masks will change depending on the beliefs and contexts in the way the mask is being used.