The Vow

Jessica and Ricky performed The Vow, one of my all time favorite pieces, on So You Think You Can Dance a few years ago. The reason that I chose this as my ideal form of art is because it encompasses nearly every aspect of art and what its purpose is. As it is dance it is clearly classified as a performance art. The movements are both fluid and strong while still being careful and emotional. It reminds me of Nietzsche's idea of Apollonian and Dionysian, that in order for someone to be considered an artist they must possess both qualities of structure and emotion.

The piece expresses emotion and tells the story of one love supporting the other. The music is what really sets the stage for this performance, in that it is simple and lets the movements do most of the work for the viewer. At the same time, however, it adds a haunting hue that guides the viewer through the story. I find that the music aids in the development of this supportive relationship, expressed through motion. This is an ideal work of art because it is a unique piece that required great physical strength and technique to perform, and a great emotional connection to the story. A work of art can only be great if it evokes some form of curiosity, emotion, or understanding. Jessica and Ricky evoke all of these aspects of art for me in The Vow.