Kayla Langmaid/Winonan

The premiere of “Plastic Lemon Spikey Fish” last Friday expressed the frustrations society has with government through interpretive dance movements.

The dance, performed in the Memorial Hall dance studio, focused on the longing for change in society and the ideas of surrealism, an artistic movement from the 20th century.

Paula Mann and Steve Paul choreographed the Time Tracks Production. Eric Manson composed. Seven dancers utilized the structures of society coming together and attempting to make a difference as one.

Mann said the performance to new eyes changes the energy.

“I hope to move people on a deep level through a cathartic journey, because when we store our emotions, then we feel like we can’t get through to others,” Mann said.

The performance built tension by juxtaposing movements that wouldn’t ordinarily be put together. Gestures that were out of the ordinary included unique retrograded movements with the dancers partnering in unexpected ways.

Mann explained the dancers were showing their frustration by pushing each other, which can be interpreted as the dancers being frustrated with their voices not being heard. Tension was also built by hand gestures, which were encouraged to be interpreted as anger that the dancers have towards eachother.

There are many people with voices that need to be heard and their ideas are not crazy or wrong, Mann said. Expressing those emotions through art is healthier than storing the emotions.

Mann, who attended New York University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree and a master of fine arts in dance, has 33 years of choreography experience and has been working on this particular dance since July.

Mann will also be involved in Dancescape 2014, which will take place on Feb. 13-15.

Dancescape is an annual event that features dances choreographed by Winona State students and faculties. Time Track Productions will choreograph one of these dances, featuring ten Winona State University students.

Gretchen Cohenour, dance professor at Winona State, said, “I am really fortunate to be collaborating with Paula Mann as our guest artist for Dancescape 2014. She is a strong teacher as well as an artist.”

The performance on Friday was 50 minutes long, but Mann plans to increase it to a 70-minute piece.

Paul is a multi-media artist, and Mann is planning to use media elements into the dance as well as adding sculptural pieces into the performance.

Contact Kayla at [email protected]