Post 5

In this blog post I will review the piece MK Ultra. This is a piece by my chosen practitioner Rosie Kay that I have seen live and has influenced the stimulus and research behind my choreography.

The title MK Ultra is the code name for a top secret experiment performed by the CIA. during the cold war It investigated how LSD and other drugs could be used for “mind control, information gathering and psychological torture” (M.Sullivan, 2017). Through declassified reports and interviews with those involved we know these events to be fact. However the topic of the dance piece takes a look into the conspiracy theories that have spawned surrounding the mystery of MK Ultra.

Dancers are dressed in skintight, psychedelic unitards a clear reference to the psychedelic drug LSD. This trend continues into the stage lighting and some pieces of music and while there isn't necessarily a meaning behind this the theme is obvious and works well to simplify the audience's thought process despite the chaos of colour. 

The show expertly integrates solo, duet, trio and group movement to portray the themes of control, manipulation and unwilling participation. Sections of solo work are observed from afar by the other cast members, as though observing the results of a test through one way glass. Partner and trio work shows a clear leader and the remaining dancers under their guise, unwilling and simultaneously unable to resist. A large part of the story is told through narration. And while some may consider this a way out of expressing the theme purely through dance, I believe that on a subject matter as complex and as niche as this I don't think dance alone is enough for the audience to get the full picture. This inspired me to choose a selection of songs whose lyrics abide with my topic and help carry my theme to the audience. 

To my mind the piece works to intrigue it’s audience rather than take them on a narrative arc. And since it is based on a conspiracy theory, an unsolved mystery, it ends leaving the viewer questioning how much of what they witnessed could be true. This is something I thoroughly enjoy and also has influenced my choreography, it has no plotline, just a series of statements and finally a question. Could we see A.I take over our planet?

Word count: 393

References:

Sullivan, M., 2017. MK-Ultra. [online] HISTORY. Available at: <https://www.history.com/topics/us-government/history-of-mk-ultra> [Accessed 9 February 2022].

Youtube.com. 2018. Rosie Kay Dance Company - MK ULTRA trailer. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uxoEcVQCAU&list=PLvcaw6XkvxbllcTrnrgin2oiVc08PwLr7&index=4> [Accessed 9 February 2022].