ConTrast crEateS InteReSt

Most everything we do in life ironically requires a good amount of contrast and opposition in order to be balanced in the end. A balanced life has to be divided with time spent at work and at play; we must invest energy in our romantic relationships, relationships with friends, and with co-workers in order to succeed in all areas of life. Additionally, we must experience the lows to appreciate the highs, or eventually we will get bored with our routine-no matter how cushy it may be. I think this need for contrast holds our attention because we get exposed to a fuller range of experiences and emotions, which translates to a fuller life. On a much smaller scale, incorporating contrast into movement is essential for a dancer. When creating a piece of choreography, you strive to include a wide range of dynamics, timing, and spatial patterns into the actual movement you come up with. It is clearly much more interesting to see a mixture of fast and slow movements, or sharp and flowing movements interspersed with each other, rather than just much of the same. One of my favorite dance videos is a piece called Falling Angels from choreographer Jiri Kylian. What makes it so powerful to watch is not any sort of technical "step," but the precision with which the dancers execute every little quirky detail. The juxtaposition of geometric lighting in the background with curving, balletic shapes of the dancers' bodies is the most striking contrast to me. Also, the seamless transitions from sharp, accented movement to more suspended, floaty movement keeps your attention, or at least keeps you awake. I find this exciting because I am a dancer, but there are opposing forces everywhere. In most cases, we probably complain about whatever force is opposing us; some person, task, or circumstance (but most often it's some person). Despite our complaints, our lives would be a whole lot less interesting without differences thrown into the mix. I think people generally crave contrast in most if not all areas of their lives for that very reason that it keeps things interesting. Even if things are good, if they are good in the exact same way for too long, we get bored and unappreciative of what we have. We need the opposition sometimes to keep us optimistic, engaged, and at the very least awake in our lives.