Snake
Snake
1995
About
Originally created as part of the evening-length work Tales of Descent, this solo was developed and continued to be performed by Hiromoto Ida. Snake was one of 5 dances showcased at 5 Dances by Karen Jamieson in 1995, an evening of innovative dance and music collaboration exploring notions of gender, conflict, spirituality and compassion.
Hiromoto Ida danced the piece at this event, from May 3-7, 1995 at the Firehall Arts Centre, with music composed by Jeff Corness and performed live by Peter Hurst on piano, and costume by Nancy Bryant.
Before snake was ever a character he was simply a reptile; a part of nature, a living creature. Without limbs, he is all spine and head, moving with extraordinary grace. He has a flickering tongue, razor sharp teeth, and strikes with lightning speed. For thousands of years, people have looked with fascination at the snake’s strange beauty, placing upon him human fears and desires, and making him a character in our stories. Snake has become a symbol of poison, death and destruction, as well as a symbol of healing and the renewal of life.
“As snake, Ida brings his eccentric sense of humour to the twitching, tongue-flicking, and hissing mannerisms of his character.”
- Shannon Rupp, The Georgia Straight
“Hiromoto Ida is a virtuoso performer who is reaching the peak of his expressive powers.”
- Max Wyman’s Notebook