A trip to the Animal world:  My visit to the Bronx Zoo.

 

                                                     

As a well-known homebody, visiting the Bronx Zoo was probably one of the best tour decisions I’ve ever made. Prior to my visit, the only animals I had ever seen were domestic. In other words, if someone ever told me that I would see beyond cats, dogs and cows, I wouldn’t have believed them. And of all the places in the world, I wouldn’t have guessed it to be in the state of New York. Lucky for me, the universe had other plans.

As I entered through the distinct gates of the Bronx Zoo, I had to make sure that not second had to be wasted since the zoo appeared to be bigger than I expected, and I immediately accepted the fact that this journey had to be walked on foot. I am sure nobody cares enough to talk about it but for a place this size, the zoo navigation system is pretty impressive. All the zoo signs and maps made the journey even smoother right from arrival to departure. With all the exhibits present, I had to plan and go all out just in case it started raining or the animals suddenly ran or flew away. 

Thus, to fulfill my curiosity, the African jungle had to be visited first. The giraffes were the first I set my eyes upon, and I did not expect them to be so tall and that can also be said for the ostriches that stay with them. As interesting as they were, my curiosity could not make me stay any longer; the zoo was simply too big, and my eyes had to be fed as much as they could. I had long awaited to see a lion with my own eyes, and it was at the top of this tour’s bucket list together with the tiger and lucky for me, it was up next. I saw not one but two lions and from their mane and size, I could feel how majestic these animals really are. But unfortunately, they were not as close as I wanted them to be and not really moving around much. I could sense a “I’ve just finished my lunch, and I can’t be doing too much” type of vibe and not just from the lions but some other animals too.

I am not a big fan of birds and honestly most people don’t have that enthusiasm to see birds when visiting a zoo but the “World of Birds” was aiming to change my mind. There are obviously a lot of beautiful and unique birds in this house-like exhibit but what really attracted me is the feeling of being a part of their ecosystem and not seeing them locked up in some cage. The sounds of the birds, the trees and water flow were so close and natural that I forgot I was indoors. 

People always ask if someone can tell the difference between a lion and tiger, but the real question is,” Can you tell the difference between a snow leopard and a tiger?” After visiting the Bronx Zoo, I can tell you that they are hard to distinguish but the difference in their size and structure is noticeable with the tiger being bigger but also has stripes instead of spots as those of the snow leopard. One surprising and somewhat unsettling thing I noticed is that both of these two were moving in a back-and-forth pattern for hours in the same place despite being in different exhibits. 

As I said, most of these animals’ seemed kind of laid back and lazy but there was one exception, and that is the sea lions. Just by arriving at their pool exhibit near the Astor court, you could tell by the crowd present that they were not just there to watch passively but rather enjoy the show held by these showmen. These sea lions were doing backflips and all kinds of tricks like they were being paid for it especially when their fish meal was brought. 

Fast forward to the end of the tour, I got a chance to see other different animals like crocodiles, rhinos and monkeys and each exhibit and interaction with the animals was unique and informative but unfortunately there was not enough time to visit all the exhibits and I didn’t get a chance to visit the Congo trail and see the gorillas but this made me eager to plan a second trip and finish what I started.

Beauty in Motion: A Reflection on the matinee performance of the Taylor Dance Company

Arriving at the David H. Koch theater in Lincoln Center, I didn’t know what to expect. The building’s exterior appearance could not prepare me for the beauty and atmosphere inside the theater. Meeting and seeing people of different age, class, passion, fashion and appearance altogether was somewhat of an experience of its own. It did so much as to entail the significance of what had brought us together to this venue. Of course, the beauty inside did not disappoint. With its towering walls and shiny chandeliers, the theatre felt like the perfect introduction to the masterpiece that awaited us. With everything put aside and immersed in dim light, this performance left no room for distraction. It claimed my utmost attention and consciousness while also building a calm excitement in me.

 

The “Word” featured three performances, each showing unique perspectives, emotions, style and artistry. 

The first performance stood out for its plainness, simply just showcasing the ability of the performers to sync their minds and bodies. I was surprised by how the dancers moved with ease, grace, and perfect harmony. Their movements were raw and demonstrated very high coordination. As someone who had no previous exposure to this type of dance and genre, this first play was the perfect introduction and eye-opener to the artistry, professionalism and not forgetting the athletic ability of these dancers. The way one of the male dancers executed a perfect catch of what seemed to be another flying human was really astounding. The timing in their runs, leaps and slides was immaculate and judging from the applause from the other audience, I wasn’t the only one amazed. 

One thing I also appreciated was the sound and music effects from the live band. I am not really a full-on listener to this type of music except maybe Hans Zimmer, I can confidently say that the musical work was worth as much as the performance. It gave a sense of thrill and emotion to the whole performance.

The second performance took a different turn, bringing forth a mediaeval theme which could immediately be drawn from the crew’s choice of costume characterized by their long white shirts and tight blue suspender pants. There is always a story behind the clothes we wear, and these costumes got me to think a lot about how different cultures coexist in this world and how each culture has a sense of style behind it influencing how people live or in this particular case “dance.” This can be traced in dances all over the world like hip hop, samba, salsa, flamenco, the Irish step and many others. It also reminded me of the culture back home and how the corresponding dance is much different but equally graceful.

As someone unfamiliar with theater dance, I found this performance both enlightening and moving. It reminded me that art doesn’t require deep knowledge to be appreciated; it only requires an open mind. Leaving the theater, I felt grateful not just for the afternoon’s entertainment, but for the chance to witness how dance can bring stories, emotions, and history to life in such a dynamic way.