As one aspect of my final project in pursuit of my MFA in Dance Performance at the Ohio State University, I will perform a solo and/or small group dance piece enveloped in distinctive clear lines, choreographic and technological innovation, emotional and spiritual inspiration, and utter commitment to the form of modern dance and contemporary artistry. In doing so, I will explore and create movement concepts based on resiliency, blood, disease, war, light, shadows, memory, and clairvoyance. This movement will be interwoven in the context of juxtaposing dimensions of consciousness and dreaming. I will augment physical expression utilizing the tools of sound, music, video, photography, lighting design, and costume design to convey narratives of a perceived journey of pre-conception energy to pre-birth formation to an awakening into an unfamiliar world. My research will be based in dance technology, dance history, dance theory, dance composition and choreography, dream analysis, neuropsychology, Buddhism, and practices of meditation, Somatics, modern dance technique, and personal dream journaling.

            I will ultimately work to inspire change and translate an understanding of how we as humans have the capacity to move beyond the past and memory to create our own realities; as such, empowering us to take responsibility for our behavior and contributions within this lifetime. I will make a statement of how our reliance on computer software systems and technology in a service oriented and capitalistic culture creates interpersonal distance and disconnection from nature supporting continued isolation and despair – distilling peace and fueling sickness of the mind and body as contributors to on-going war.

            I will consult and collaborate with dance faculty members for artistic perspectives, choreography, dance technique and Somatics, dance theory, dance and world history, lighting design and technology, and costume design. ACCAD will be a source of assisting in developing advanced technological components of this piece. The mode of independent study will be utilized to explore readings related to this piece. Interdisciplinary consultation within the studies of neuropsychology and spiritual practices will also be indicated.

Small Dances for Small Spaces features works from six resident and visiting artists, including OSU’s Candace Feck, Shawn Hove, Michael Kelly Bruce and Melanie Bales, and visitors Ming-Lung Yang, (Taiwan) and Tania Isaac (Philadelphia).

Says Michael Kelly Bruce, professor and coordinator of the show, “The extraordinary facility, the EMMA Lab, presents unique opportunities for choreographers. The technology in place there is state-of-the-art, allowing choreographers, programmers, musicians, technicians and dancers to work together to further their collective visions.”

The resident artists at Ohio State benefit from having the opportunity to work with visiting artists from around the world, “in this case Tania Isaac from St Lucia via Philadelphia, and Ming-Lung Yang from Taiwan via New York City,” he says. “I think our work feels and looks different in this context. We learn from each other and enjoy the exchange of creating and working side by side.”

The production includes:

Walks to Linko – Threadless Footprint (premiere)
Choreographed and performed by Ming-Lung Yang.
Sound designer Michael Wall, vocals by Tzen-Nan Tsai.

Stuporwoman
Choreographed by Tania Isaac.

Boy Sandwich
Choreographed by Michael Kelly Bruce.

NO/ON
Choreography, film and soundscore by Bala Sarasvati. Text “Against On” by Candace Feck.
*I am in this piece.

Six untitled scenes that reference film scenes by Melanie Bales. Music from Bernard Herrmann, who wrote many Hitchcock film scores.
*I am also in this piece.

Murmur
Created by composer Marc Ainger (music) and choreographer Norah Zuniga-Shaw. The system is adapted for each performance to respond to local specifities and to the performers.

bata version
An open collaborative project of Brent Haley (computer science), Shawn Hove (dance) and David Morneau (music), an investigation of the integration of motion capture, virtual reality media and choreography.

Performances will be held in the EMMA Lab. at the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) on the Campus of OSU. Visit the ACCAD Web site for directions: http://www.osu.edu/map/building.php?building=374

RESERVATIONS
To make a reservation CALL the dept main line at 614-292-7977 by 4:00 on Wed, Thurs, Friday, Nov 14-16, 2007. Since the admin offices are closed on Saturday, reservations for Saturday must be submitted by 4 PM on Friday 11/16. There are no email reservation requests for this concert.

For more information on this performance please go the the Deptartment website at:
http://www.dance.osu.edu/3_research_gallery/proj_init_press.html

I have been charged with creating a blog from my Dance and Technology Class at Ohio State University. I will have several assignments associated with this blog and would appreciate your participation. Please humor me.