Prepare to be mesmerized... HüM
ByThe Watcher speaks: “Fire, water, earth and air . . . call the elements to join us now. Share this space with mortals . . . prepare your eyes, hearts and ears . . .” And so begins the amazing production of HuM.
In the secret tantric language of ancient Tibet, HüM (rhymes with ‘zoom’) is a word or sound representing five elements: water, earth, air, fire, and space. It is also the name of the deliciously magical show performed by members of the Flying Dreams Aerial Arts troupe of Salt Spring Island with special guest Tenzing Tsewang.
Born into a family of Tibetan nomads, Tenzing found his way to the monastery of the Dalai Lama in Dharmsala, India where he was educated in the ways of monks at Namgyal Tantric College. A talent for music and chanting soon flourished and by 1979 Tenzing was known as an accomplished musician and master chanter. After traveling the world sharing his gifts, he recently settled on Salt Spring Island.
Victoria Mihalyi is the founder and Artistic Director of Flying Dreams with a deep appreciation for Tibetan traditions. Known for her talents as a dancer and aerial artist, and for her unique, artistic creations, Victoria decided to meld the fluidly frenetic world of aerobatics with the tranquil world of ancient Tibetan spiritual traditions. After approaching Tenzing with her concept, HüM was born.
The story follows a Tibetan shaman on a spiritual quest for immortality. His meditations, dreams and visitations are brought to life by the aerial acrobats, giving the elements water, earth, air, fire and space anthropomorphic and supernatural qualities. Adorned in alluring, colorful costumes, they fly, spin, flip and twirl amidst long silk banners, hoops and trapezes; sinewy muscles taut and flexing with each gravity defying move.
Weaving in and out is Tenzing’s music— both recorded and live. He plays a variety of rare Tibetan instruments, including a guitar-like instrument known as a dranyen, and blesses the audience with his deep and resonant chantings. It is easy to be drawn into the ethereal world of the protagonist as his soothing and healing sounds fill the incredibly unique performance space.
Built on the edge of a cliff, the cathedral-like venue, known as The Temple, is one of the stars of the show. With stone stairways leading to the gothic style front doors, forty-foot ceilings, exquisite post and beam work, and a 25 foot arched window backdropping the performers, the theatrical experience is truly extraordinary.
Indeed, aerial artists Natasha Danchenko— who plays the Hummingbird Guide—and her husband, Karl Pazdernik (Paz)—who plays the elements Air and Space and directed the show—feel it is the most wonderful venue in
which they have ever performed. Such a space, they feel, allows for an intimate connection with the audience and ultimately a better performance. This is hard to argue as one of the most passionate and captivating routines of the show was the aerial pas de deux performed by the award-winning couple.
Victoria portrays the elements Water and Fire masterfully, but her Fire routine was particularly memorable. With hair dyed red, eyes enhanced with black shadow, and clad in a skin tight, red and black costume, she practically sailed over the heads of first row spectators as long, red silks trailed behind her. It was truly a sight to behold.
Rounding out the cast is the very beautiful and wonderfully pregnant Sondra Jordon who performs an incredibly sensual and mesmerizing dance as the element Earth, sublimely choreographed by Andrea Rabinovitch. And of course The Watcher, played by talented stilt artist Bryan Jamieson.
A show of this caliber cannot be accomplished without the efforts of all those behind the scenes, and everyone from Stage Manager, Kathleen Donovan to Rigger, Max Miller should be immensely proud of their contributions.
HüM, in the Tibetan tradition, is also the sound of transformation, and the mortal audience, keeping their eyes, ears and hearts open, will find themselves transformed from their earthly existence to a fantastical world of magic and wonder. This show is not to be missed.
HüM opened on Friday, June 29th and runs for three consecutive weekends, from Friday to Sunday, until July 15th. For tickets call TicketWeb at 1.888.222.6608, or purchase locally at ArtSpring. For more information on the show please visit www.flyingdreams.ca.
Tyson Mielke is a freelance writer currently living on Vancouver Island. He can be reached
