The Story
The Collective Brings Performance Art to the College
The Collective, a new performance art group on campus, cannot be defined easily, and its members would rather not limit themselves through explanations.
Kevin Flanagan, co-founder, says the group resists “explaining too much of what we do and instead would hope that what we present speaks for itself. As with all artists, the mystical essence of creation is necessary in order to make some of our more forceful points.” Hannah Ayers, another member of the group, agrees with Flanagan, saying that the groups’ unpredictability makes it unique.
The company combines all sorts of art- from comedy to music to dance. Rosh Patel says, “We cover several disciplines (comedy, music, theater, dance, film), and our goal is to blend them into something that can’t be defined by one discipline of performance art. For example, relate theater to dance, humor to music, or dance to film.” The group’s second show, which had a Halloween theme, included a slideshow, a humorous commentary on magic, and outdoor scenes performed on the Crim Dell Bridge.
Each troupe member can lead a project, and the other performers jump in and help the idea come to life for the show. Ayers says, “Its fun to [head a project] sometimes, but it’s also worthwhile to get involved in other’s projects. It is a very collaborative process, and in the end, it all comes together.”
The Collective goes against the stereotype of performance arts- it isn’t a boring show with, as Ayers puts it, “modern dance and men in berets.” The variety of talent keeps the performances fresh, and the creativity of the members is a promise for future exciting shows.