CMU students, faculty perform "Wizard of OZomeness" at Grand Rapids ArtPrize
Plymouth junior Charlie Dillon performs in the Wizard of Ozsomeness during Art Prize on Oct. 1 Grand Rapids, Michigan.
GRAND RAPIDS - Ricky "Bird" Clarkson is a dancing wizard.
The Central Michigan University dance instructor took the stage as the wizard in "The Wizard of OZomeness," a street dance perspective of the Wizard of Oz, Saturday in front of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
The performance was an entry in this year's ArtPrize, an international art festival with a $200,000 grand prize. The dates for the Art Prize shows were Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 1-2.
“Everything I’ve done from halftime shows to performances, I’m all about bringing people from wherever their love to express and giving them a large platform to show that," Bird said.
The show stars Dee, portrayed by Tampa resident Morgan McGrew, as she travels to meet the wizard. She teams up with Patches the Scarecrow, Mr. Tin and Leonidas the Lion in hopes to learn dance moves from the wizard, Mr. OZome, who is played by Clarkson.
In order to earn the dance lesson, the wizard challenges them to beat a group of witches in a dance off. Dee defeats the witches in a dance battle using her signature move, "break it down, break it down", and the performance ends with a celebratory dance from the cast.
Oak Park senior Justin Sansom, who is a model, played Patches the Scarecrow. Sansom said he had never performed or danced before the show.
“The message of the show is to believe in yourself and be courageous," Sansom said. "Those life lessons really hit home for me. Playing a character that can show those lessons and influence others, it really means a lot to me.”
Mr. Tin was portrayed by 13-year-old Alma resident Tyler Bader, who has been performing with Bird since age eight. Despite having performed with Bird at CMU halftime shows, he said it was nerve-racking performing the "Wizard of OZomeness."
“I would love to this again with this crew or a different crew," Bader said. "I love dancing with Bird anywhere, anytime I do it.”
Plymouth junior Charlie Dillon took on the role of Leonidas the Lion. An experienced gymnast, Dillon did several back flips on the concrete platform, drawing applause from the crowd.
Dillon took a hip hop class with Bird and performed with him in the spring. He said playing the role of the cowardly lion was a great opportunity to step outside his comfort zone. He added he also likes the crowd interactions the performers enact.
“The vibe has been great," Dillon said. "It’s been really cool seeing all different types of people come around and see our show. Being able to interact with all different kinds of people is really a great experience.”
Bay City sophomore Sarah Anderson has been dancing since she was four and met Clarkson when he was a coach in the University Theatre Dance Company. While Anderson did not have a speaking role as a witch, she said she had to use facial expressions to convey her audience.
“(This ArtPize entry) is not only introducing CMU’s dancers in this creative and awesome way, but it’s almost introducing dance into the art world," she said.
Many audience members greeted the performers after the show, including Robert Clarkson, who is Bird Clarkson's uncle. The Holland resident has seen the performance twice and said there's a different feeling each show.
“You see the confidence in the dancers themselves," Robert said. "They’re into it because they know what they’re doing. They feel it. They want the success that comes with being out there in the midst of everyone.”
Bird said he has spent a "few thousand" dollars on the show and has been rehearsing for two months. He would drive to Grand Rapids every Sunday to practice with the Grand Rapids performers in the group, which includes 30 dancers aged from 8 to 50.
In the end, he said he is happy his show is generated a good turnout.
“I’m happy people love it because that’s the goal – I want as many people as I can to fully relate to something (in the performance)," Bird said. "There’s something hopefully for everybody – the seriousness, the laughter, the jokes."
Bird, who is a pop-up dancer in Grand Rapids, invited members of the cast to perform in front of Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids before the Kanye West concert on Sept. 27. He said performing at halftime shows and smaller platforms contributes to elevating to bigger settings.
As for the "Wizard of OZomeness," Bird said he hasn't decided if the show will continue, but is open to the idea. He said his next step is planning halftime shows.
“It was a lot of fun," he said. "It’s a lot of work. It’s a challenge to bring so many bodies together from so many different areas, but it is definitely not something I’m going to stop.”
