For The Continuing Presence of the Past: David Fernandez’s Vitruvian Man: One aspect of Fernandez’s dance is that it showcases the extraordinary athleticism of the three dancers. In what ways does this reflect the cult of the body that extends all the way back to the Greek Golden Age?

What will be an ideal response?

Stemming from the Greek understanding of the beautiful body and Da Vinci’s interest in medicine and the body, David Fernandez’s Vitruvian Man connects the body, health, and the (artistic) mind. In the dance, the dancers display not only their athleticism but their physiques as they perform exuberant leaps and turns bare-chested. In addition, however, in the context of the performance—charity for dancers transitioning to other career opportunities—one can connect this physical display to the mental, as it was to display their overall acumen. Thus, just as the Greeks believed that a beautiful mind was reflected in the beautiful body, David Fernandez’s Vitruvian Man made a broader statement about dancers and their capacity.