Friday June 10, 2011 - Having followed the development of Robin Becker's INTO SUNLIGHT from rather early in the creative process, it was so meaningful to have an opportunity tonight to see it presented in its completed form at the 92nd Street Y tonight. Photo above by Kokyat.
Though 'historic' in subject matter (the era of the Vietnam War and of the protest movement that sprang up on college campuses at the time) the themes remain current today: young people far from home, in harm's way, fighting an elusive enemy, with an unclear goal; and those at home who wait for their return; and those whose idea of the best way of supporting the troops is to bring them home alive.
Inspired by Pulitzer prize-winning author David Maraniss's book THEY MARCHED INTO SUNLIGHT, Robin Becker has crafted an hour-long dancework with music by Chris Lastovicka, Arthur Solari and Andrea Bauer. While the events depicted - the ambush of a batallion of American soldiers in the Vietnam jungle and the protest against Dow Chemical at the University of Wisconsin - took place on two consecutive days in October of 1967, INTO SUNLIGHT resonates far beyond those specific incidents, and will continue to resonate as long as mankind resorts to warfare as a way of settling religious and idelogical differences.
Robin's troupe of young dancers are joined by an ensemble from the Hofstra University dance division; what's particularly telling is the fact that in 1967 the boys who were dancing tonight would have been serving in Vietnam and the girls would have been at home waiting for news of husbands and lovers.
Among the most vivid moments of INTO SUNLIGHT are two duets: in one, Nicole Sclafani and Paul Monaghan depict the dream a young woman had of her brother's horrific death from a massive abdomenal wound - a dream which came true. Later, Yoko Sugimoto-Ikezawa visits the grave of her beloved (Hofstra's Joseph Jehle) where she seeks to connect with his spirit. In a powerfully-danced solo, Chazz Fenner-McBride recalls the moment that West Point football hero Don Holleder rushed heedlessly onto the battleground towards his vanquished comrades only to be gunned down.
As poignant as these scenes are, we must imagine them played out thousands and thousands of times over as young people meet their fate in distant lands, mourned by their loved ones at home. This tragic cycle of death and despair will continue to plague mankind until we break free of the religious and political bonds that prevent us from embracing our common humanity.
More of Kokyat's images from an earlier showing of INTO SUNLIGHT will be found here.
