While the world is more connected than ever, barriers can make it difficult to find commonality. Distance can be shortened in an instant, but words create stopping points, pitfalls, or even confusion. As STOMP reaches 30 years on the stage, the rhythm created through musical creativity continues to mesmerize audiences.
From Broadway to theaters across the globe, STOMP has brought a combination of music and dance to a wide audience. While a word is never uttered on stage, the experience does not need a narrative. Instead, it is the uniqueness of the moment that creates a sense of community in the theater.
For those unfamiliar with the show, the performers create beats, rhythm, and a cacophony of sounds with every day objects. From the sweeping of a broom to the crashing of a garbage lid, each action comes with intention. Crescendos followed by silence and hushed tones building to an exclamation, the audience is engaged from the moment the theater lights go down.
The reason why STOMP continues to resonate with audiences is that desire to see beyond the superficial. Instead of looking at the kitchen sink and only seeing a reciprocal for dishes, the creators let their imaginations and creativity go wild.
As the show stops in Orlando at Dr. Phillips Center, that concept hits more clearly. In the City Beautiful where imagination comes to life across the many theme parks, people are encouraged to embrace the moment and what can be possible.
Even though there are times when the cadence compels toe tapping, or even hoping for a pause and rewind button to figure out the intricacies, the high energy, fast paced moments have people’s eyes darting across the stage. In some moments, the performers' gestures, facial expressions, and personalities are just as important as the next beat.
That uniqueness in every performance is key to STOMP's longevity. While the performance is expertly choreographed and each move has been keenly practiced, there is an unpredictability to the performance. That concept keeps the show exciting and draws people back time and again.
While other shows have had their decades worth of performances, STOMP continually feels new, in the moment. Whether the audience member can remember the first time they saw a performer in the New York Subway knock out a beat on a plastic bucket or they are experiencing the concept of music beyond traditional instruments, everyone is engaged in that unrepeatable night of theater.
As STOMP continues its National Tour, it is time to both discover and rediscover the performance making audiences believe that music is life. One beat joins with others to create a community with no boundaries.