Into the Void reviews

Here's what's been written about Into the Void so far:

"Seattle dancer-choreographer Catherine Cabeen explores a dreamlike Void" - Seattle Times

"Catherine Cabeen on the Yves of Creation" - The SunBreak

"Into the Void—Catherine Cabeen’s newest work explores the art of Yves Klein" - Seattle Dances

"Cabeen Straight Up With a Twist of Klein" - City Arts

Bonus | check out these previews:

"Into the Void with Catherine Cabeen" - Seattlest

"Catherine Cabeen Goes Into the Void: inspired by French painter Yves Klein, the choreographer’s new work is a 'painting in time and space.'" - Seattle Metropolitan

When art speaks well about art

by Josef Vascovitz

As a commissioned work, Catherine Cabeen's Into the Void is a smart choice for OtB, especially as the theatre season winds down.  First it's a beautiful blend of music and stagecraft, with exquisite (ly performed) dance gracefully stepping through a narrative about art.  When art speaks well about art , it finds a way to reexamine even your most steadfast assumptions.  Coupled with Catherine and her troop's remarkable dance movement- at times she seemed to float through the air like Klein's famous leap- held motionless against gravity.  Last night's performance was indeed worthy of conclusion to OtB's season, with only one more show to go, this presentation makes you sad that the drama, dance and "art" can't continue year round.  Luckily we have OntheBoards.tv to fill in the gaps and relive Catherine's vibrant performance.

As a complement of limited use... I'd almost recommend seeing Into the Void a second time - blindfolded - just to just hear the music.  Well done CC and Company.  Thanks OtB

Conversation with the Divine

There was a narrative, it emerged in certain passages: with boy meets girl, is confronted by a rival, fights and looses but is nevertheless the winner anyway; but the bigger story of freedom, of beautiful, unrestrained euphoric freedom that in it's-self, reaches to an epiphany of spiritual awakening and expression became the flying carpet ride I took. Piggybacked upon the predictable story of meeting, analogous of base human interaction and how being changed by the emergence of a new, better truth is the giddy thrill. The excitement of being free beyond the known world, of striking out 'Into The Void' and trusting the process of creation and of empowering yourself along the way and further...of illustrating the impossible electric connection that is a spark of an idea and it's ultimate depiction. An Olympian achievement for any artist and one that could be depicted in terms of conversing with the divine. The collaborative process of marshaling learned craft, body and soul, of expanding one's self and finding to your heart's delight that you are still you...but are more, is momentous. The ecstasy of well being it engenders; the satisfaction that comes from peace within and radiates out, touching and warming the world around you.

I felt Catherine's warmth beaming from all sides. From nuanced, strong, balanced bodies and facial expressions projecting the ebb and flow of emotion. One performer in particular (who in my mind represented the higher self), wore such a beautiful open, strong look of ebullient compassion. Uplifting and constant. I was buoyed in her Goddess persona as violence occurred, disappointment and failure happened, she would emerge into the collection of anthropomorphic deity-like voices to return focus, give solace and restore the charged warmth. Throughout, I felt a galloping momentum of once restrained power now unleashed, fueling every movement, infusing theatrics and became the unapologetic, over arcing reason for this work...and spoke further to me of the raison d'être in any artist's impulse. To articulate what it is to perceive of something and to express it truthfully. Catherine Cabeen is a true artist; an exquisite and articulate dancer. A masterful and gorgeous work of art is upon us and I am a better person...a bigger and warmer person for having witnessed. Thank you.