Performing the Tarot
A translation into dance . . .
Aura CuriAtlas was founded in 2013 to “find magic in ordinary situations, presented in unusual ways.” Blending dance, theatre, and acrobatics to tell stories, the company takes its unusual name from the combined qualities of lightness (Aura), strength (Atlas), and play (Curiosity).
Given the adventurous spirit of Aura CuriAtlas, it’s not surprising that in 2019 they decided to translate the 22 Major Arcana cards of the Tarot into a work of performance art—bringing to life the essential symbolism of the cards, through acrobatics and dance.
The show begins with The Deck, a performance of all 22 cards in their traditional order. Here are three sample photos to give you a flavor of the presentation:
In the next part of the show, The Readings, one or more audience members was invited to draw a set of cards on behalf of the whole group. The company then performed those particular cards in a new order and context, specific to that audience.
The creative principals of Auri CuriAtlas are faculty members at William & Mary University. Dance professor Joan Gavaler choreographed The Fool and The World, which was performed to original piano music composed by music professor Sophia Serghi. And it’s worth noting that this was not their first Tarot-related collaboration.
In fact . . . “you can think of these as branches on a tree,” Gavaler said of their ongoing projects. Gaveler and Serghi take a Jungian view, focusing on symbolism and the awakening of unconscious material.
Visit here for more about their approach—and further insight into the wide range of creative ideas that can be generated by Tarot.
Thanks so much for reading! Warmest regards, Cynthia