Medical equipment becomes sculpture

“We started talking about the broad theme of entanglements, such as how we get entangled with each other physically and in our relationships,” explained AirDance’s founder and artistic director Debra Landau. “Everything in life is interrelated.”

A variety of apparatus is used during “Caught in the Web,” which will be presented next weekend at AirDance New Mexico’s studio on Isleta Boulevard. Through working with the triple trapeze, aerial hoop and other pieces of circus arts equipment, the show’s performers explore the interconnectedness of our lives. Parts of the production utilize medical equipment.

	If you go WHAT: AirDance New Mexico presents “Caught in the Web” WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb. 9 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 WHERE: 3030 Isleta SW HOW MUCH: $12 general admission, $8 children. Call 842-9418

“We’re using three sets of crutches, a wheelchair and a walker,” said Landau. “None of them are usually used the way we’re using them. We’re making human sculptures with them.”

A climbing wall that Landau created in 2001 had been resurrected for AirDance New Mexico’s past two annual shows. In last year’s show, “Fear of Falling,” the wall appeared in a piece called “Gates of Hell.” This year, it’s incorporated into several different parts of the production.

“The climbing wall is part of the triple trapeze work,” Landau said. “It’s also in the ‘Water Therapy’ piece, where it represents a tangled web.”

The cast of “Caught in the Web” is comprised of some of the performers from last year’s show and several new faces. They bring a wide range of skills and talents to the stage. Some are dancers, rock climbers, gymnasts and physical theater artists. When they get together three times a week to practice their aerial feats, they also develop improvisational skills and the muscle strength necessary for the circus arts. Everyone involved has taken at least some of Landau’s workshops and classes in the aerial arts.

“All the people in the show are locals,” Landau said. “Some had aerial training before we started working together. Others have been training with me during the past few years. We worked together to create ‘Caught in the Web.’ It’s a true collaboration, although I am the artistic director so I get the final word.”

Casey Mraz and Monica Demarco composed original music for the production. Landau has worked with Mraz on past productions. Demarco is new to AirDance New Mexico.

“I listened to Monica’s music and thought that one particular piece would be great in the show,” Landau said. “It turned out that most everyone else wanted a different one of Monica’s pieces used instead, which was fine with me. I also asked Monica to write some new material for us.”

AirDance New Mexico is working toward tax-exempt status and plans to expand its educational and performance projects in the future.