I didn't know the human body could do that ...
Good morning everyone. I'll be honest. I don't really do Yoga, but I didn't feel so isolated after Edward Clark, Eileen Gauthier and Holly Coles of Tripsichore performed last night at John Hancock Hall. I felt better when the gentleman next to me exclaimed "We don't teach that in my class!"
We shot some video of the event for you to enjoy. You'll probably need a high-speed connection and we apologize in advance for any blurriness, as the lights were relatively low.
(JUST ADDED) Opening Sequence |
Clip 1 | Clip 2 | Clip 3 | Clip 4 | Clip 5 | Clip 6
Cheers,
Chad
Comments
As a dancer turned "yogini", who has dabbled in circus arts as well, I found this to be unspeakably beautiful and inspirational. This sort of work is a melding of all that is dear to me--excites me and I now feel validated in all of my mish mash of training. I aspire to delve into the places that these artists have opened the portals to.
Posted by: Esther McDonald | April 12, 2006 06:12 PM
I agree that these movements are combined into an impressive performance. However, I think these movements should be labeled dance - or something else - but not yoga. Yoga is not about performing!
Posted by: Nola Sheffer | April 12, 2006 09:09 PM
I thought it was an excellent clip. It was an interesting play of yoga and acrobatics, in the case of one of the cast.
Posted by: Louise Maroc | April 12, 2006 11:21 PM
Wow! This is realy wonderfull!
Some times I dream about doing asana's this way, but these guy's are awake!:-)
I'm going to have another look at the clips.
Posted by: Agn�s Schl�ter | April 13, 2006 02:50 AM
These clips come to me as a present from the Gods, as we are working on a performance using the same approach as in clip 2, that puts the partner yoga techniques in a flowing dance. I have to say that it not only looks wonderful but it feels amazingly good to practise it. As for Tripsichore, congratulations. Might Edward Clark read this, please Clark keep the choreography more yogic than dramatic and please give us more DVDs. We really enjoy watching Tripsichore.
Posted by: Iliananda | April 13, 2006 03:57 AM
Cool displays of ability. Although there are some yoga postures used, it seems more like modern dance but less artistic.
Posted by: Andrea | April 13, 2006 11:32 AM
These video clips are really amazing. It will serve as an inspiration to all yogi and yoginis.
Posted by: pakyaw | April 13, 2006 12:03 PM
As a yoga teacher and a giant fan and follower of Cirque du Soleil, I would classify this as lovely performance art. Yoga can be used to help one acheive this, but the performance shouldn't be labelled yoga. It is circus art in a rudimentary form.
Posted by: Katie O'Connor | April 13, 2006 04:21 PM
Truly! I'm going to show my pals in the cast of Mystere -CDS, Las Vegas!!!
Posted by: Christine | April 13, 2006 08:58 PM
I'm not sure it matters what we CALL it - much of the beauty of this type of work derives from the fact that there ARE no words... ;-)
Besides, how do you know this isn't how these three people practice yoga? Imagine if it sprung up organically, and these people developed it by exploring it on a regular basis ... sounds a lot like yoga to me!
Posted by: Jennifer Kaleta | April 14, 2006 04:40 PM
They are excellent videos and performances but I think that it resembles more a Circus' show or a dance show rather than yoga. One doesn't need to perform a challenging asana to do a good yoga. I think that it is better to do yoga rather than to watch a performance.
Posted by: Valeria | April 14, 2006 05:24 PM
Tripsichore is lovely, sensual, and wonderfuly flowing, demonstrating the beauty and force of the body. But to many of us this id Cirq due Sole (not sure if spelling correctly) and not yoga in it's full, true and beautiful essence.
Yogagirl
Posted by: Yogagirl | April 14, 2006 07:41 PM
Call it what we will. Beautiful is one we seem to all agree on. WOW!!!
Posted by: Lorilee | April 17, 2006 02:59 PM
Beautiful it may be, but the spirit of yoga it is not.
Posted by: Anuradha Ilwahdi | April 18, 2006 12:53 PM
Beautiful it truley is, amazing and WOW! But why are we so obsessed with asana and seeing people demonstrate advanced asana?
By continuing to showcase advanced asana and label it as yoga we are neglecting a vast majority of the population. How are we doing that? By sending the image that yoga is about being a pretzel and that one must be flexible to do yoga.
If you label something as it truely is you appeal to a market of people beyond yogis. In Vipassana meditation all thoughts, movements and emotions are labelled for what they are. So why are we so afraid to label these demonstrations for what they are - performance art, yoga dance or whatever the name shall be. By actually being true to what is being showcased and honoring a true name for it more people will understand the value and message behind the performance. Mixing performance yoga with yoga could be a costly mistake in reaching those that are really lost and need yoga the most. If all we become is a clicky yoga community that gets off on seeing people do advanced asana demonstrations then we are truly lost in a world far beyond that of yoga.
Raven Song
Posted by: raven | April 19, 2006 03:43 PM
This is performance, not yoga. Let's remember that Yoga is more than asanas. It was impressive and beautiful, but it is not yoga.
Posted by: DC | April 20, 2006 12:14 AM
What is Yoga in the West? Nobody knows the answer. Western Yoga is unfolding.
Posted by: jason | April 29, 2006 10:48 PM
I wish to bring the attention back to what is yoga, and what is vinyasa, is it art, is it beauty, is it breathe, is it a moving meditation.. or do we not even know and are these all just labels. For the past six years it has been my extreme privilige to not only watche with great appreciation the tripsichore performances, for they are purely spirit and the breathe, but to also practice these advanced vinyasas with edward in class. By doing so, only to continually realize my potential. , I never believed my practice would elevate to this level and yet, I see only possibility exist where there is breathe to take you..
Posted by: kimberly | May 2, 2006 05:54 PM
What is yoga? is not a state of consciousness? they don't do yoga they are yoga!
Posted by: simao | November 10, 2006 06:49 AM