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Dancing, acting and writing are all considered forms of art, so what happens when you meld members and ideas of all three disciplines?
"Moving Texts" is the name and concept of the latest dance concert, which will connect text and dance.
The concert is aptly part of the concert series called the Bridge Project. Dancers will interpret, create and personify the concept of text, and bridge the ideas of both. The text in the concert will be spoken live, recorded, projected as video clips or presented as part of the set.
"We wanted an open-ended theme that would give choreographers lots of latitude for interpretation," said Julie Kerr-Berry, the director of the dance program. "Some of the choreographers incorporated actual text into the movement, so dancers are speaking while dancing quite fully.?Others elected to use technology in the form of projections or created sound scores of spoken text, like poetry, edited with their musical score."
The 10-piece dance concert includes two pieces choreographed by Andreas Guest artists, who were brought in with the help of the $7.5 million endowment to the College of Arts and Humanities by Lowell and David Andreas. Morgan Thorson and Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner, both Minneapolis-based choreographers, created pieces central to their styles. Thorson choreographed a piece highlighting the post-modern dance aesthetic, and Gutierrez-Garner created a jazz-piece centered on the message of love.
Faculty member Paul Finocchiaro and Nadine B. Andreas Teaching Assistant Nikki Swoboda co-choreographed a work that features 15 dancers showcasing various interpretations of the tango and quick step. The inspiration for the dance came from the television show "Dancing with the Stars" and the Broadway show "The Pajama Game." The piece uses texting on a cell phone as its collaboration of text and dance. Finocchiaro said he wanted to combine old, authentic dance moves with the modern ideas of technology.
"I wanted students to experience the authentic Argentinean steps, and this was a prime opportunity for something that was authentic, ethnic and ballroom all at same time," Finocchiaro said. "I can't get people to stop texting in my classes so I thought it was something they knew how to do well."
A dance-theatre piece, choreographed by Kerr-Berry, uses autobiography as its basis. She created dance movement and text based on the stories of the nine dancers presented within the piece.
"I think that the use of text in this concert brings dance and theatre in closer proximity to one another so that the line blurs between the two," said Kerr-Berry. "I also enjoy the fact that many theatre students are performing. In this way, dancers and actors can work together and learn from one another."
Graduating senior Jessica Bowers will present "Deciphered Reflections" as her senior project. Her piece is one of several student works done by students nearing graduation.
Art in all forms is subjective and individuals are able to interpret art as they choose. "Moving Texts" gives the audience a chance to interpret numerous art forms through one: dance. Kerr-Berry said she hopes audiences will take with them an appreciation for the broadness of this art form.
"Some of the work is very abstract. However, this is balanced with work that is very easy to understand and appreciate," Kerr-Berry said. "To me, dance as an art form combines movement with metaphor. It can challenge, enlighten and entertain audiences. The arts, in general, have this kind of power."
Kylie Schultz is a Reporter staff writer
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