TCU weekend of the arts

What is truly unique to a campus of a mere 8,000 undergrads is not only the ability to wave hello to fellow students in passing, but to see them sing notes in the stratosphere and perform movements with breath taking grace on the weekend.

Although in a way it does take away some of the mystique of the performers, sharing purple blood brings a real camaraderie to the high arts of ballet and opera which sometime loose touch with the common folk or in this case Frogs.

As I stood on my tip toes to watch the first piece in DanceTcu's Spring show through the window of the door (fashionably late), I got that feeling of nostalgia akin to watching older dancers practice at my home studio. Now before this post starts to sound like a scene from Chorus Line, let me get onto what I saw.
A fellow student taking on the presence of a celestial ballerina supported by her legion of angels or male dance majors.

I walked into the colosseum style auditorium to see a surprising number of students. While the lights were on I slid into a seat in the front and relaxed in a the comfortable space. My friend watched the wind player as he prepared and noted his nervous habits were similar to her own before she played.

The darkness fell, but we were still at ground level with the stage. I watched women I see in classes breathe heavily in and out and was reminded of my own experiences. Wondering if they could see my breath leaving me as my light head rushed into motion.

The double vision added depth to the performance. I could appreciate the work while still sustaining the wonder of how the synchronization was accomplished.

After the modern, which generally leaves a heavy presence, a scene from Swan Lake returned a bright facade to the stage. I heard my friend giggle next to me when our male friend came out in tights. Students who live in my dorm entered the stage living out every girl's fantasy in tutus and tight buns.

The transition of seeing the performers exist in two different dimensions was still a little puzzling to my senses. My mind had somehow fixed them in one place and had to adjust to the new setting.

This experience carried on to TCU's operetta performance of Die Fledermaus the next day. How students I had talked to in normal conversation had the ability to transform their voice and appearance was beyond me. Though I am much more familiar with dance than opera, the show seemed in another realm than campus life.

The high arts were nonetheless brought down to a comfortable level for this chill gal, while still maintaining their prestige. Yet it did make me wonder how this small campus culture has possibly broken some trends of elitist at least for the arts.

So why do we tend to embrace either the person or persona when both abilities exist and are at play in every individual? More on this in the future, for now go watch a show featuring someone you know and see if you are not puzzled and amused as well.