Bliss Dance, by Marco Cochrane, dominates the space it’s located on multiple levels. Over forty feet tall, it depicts a woman dancing, eyes closed, expressing her joy, her energy and herself. Located in Las Vegas out of MGM Resorts International, the piece has helped define The Park, which is an outdoor dining and entertainment district on the west side of the Las Vegas Strip
Inspired by artist Cochrane’s first experience at Burning Man, Bliss Dance is intended to demand a change in perspective. Cochrane wanted to challenge the viewer to see past the sexual charge that has developed around the female body to the human being. Focused on finding lasting solutions to the problems facing humanity, he wants his audience of men and women to work together as equals to solve these challenges. By creating Bliss Dance at such an enormous scale, Cochrane hopes to inspire viewers to take an active role in ending violence to women and making room for women’s voices.
First created for Burning Man 2010, Bliss Dance was located in a few places before being installed in Las Vegas in 2016. It is constructed out of steel rod and tubing utilizing two layers of geodesic triangles and covered by a skin of stainless steel mesh and lit from both inside and outside. The sculpture’s lighting effects turned on at 8:30 P.M. and turned off at 1:00 A.M. every night.
The piece is a combination of classical sculptural technique and modern design and has become a centerpiece of The Park’s natural landscaping, plantings and inspired design. Called out on markers and maps and to identify the area, the sculpture has provided a sense of place to an area that was envisioned as a microcosm of the Mojave Desert that surrounds Las Vegas.
Unlike anything in Las Vegas, Bliss Dance has been able to capture the attention of audiences who understand the underlying themes that Cochrane is highlighting but has also created engagement with people who simply enjoy the aesthetics of the sculpture. Being able to create this kind of simultaneous connection has helped the sculpture to transform and define the space around it, showcasing the power of such pieces to create a positive impact in small and large ways.
