Description: This dance theatre work asks questions about what it means to expose or to be exposed. In relation to a person this exposure could be emotional or physical. I am interested in juxtaposing the human and the technical, thus I intend to look at aspects of film exposure. The piece has six female performers, who will perform in various states of dress and undress, against a set made of pristine white dresses lit from underneath. Integrated into the work will be projections that play with points of light against darkness, and explore video exposure, to create an immersive environment for dancers and audience. Research supporting this process began in France during June and July of 2010 and consisted of viewing performances and museums in Montpellier, Marseille and Paris. In particular I was interested by dance theatre performances that explored the use of nudity, eroticism and the moving body onstage. Images forming the base aesthetic for the work were gathered from sources like magazines, but primarily come from photographs I took. While traveling I also journaled daily, intending to bring a collage of images and words into the studio upon return to the states. I found the thread tying images and concepts together in the realization that I would find it easier to be naked on stage rather than share my summer writings. Each type of exposure – of the body of or the mind/heart, brings forth a different kind of vulnerability, which seems a rich source for exploration.
Topic:
- Exposure
- Internal – i.e. emotions, private thoughts, vulnerability, secrets
- External – the physical body, nudity, nude vs. naked
- Technical – film exposure: aperture, film speed, shutter speed
Influences:
- Important Images (gathered)
- Infinity Mirror Room – Fireflies on the Water (installation I saw in Marseille)
- White light of Parisian Ferris Wheel against black night sky
- Misc. images from France & the U.K. where bright light (white, yellow, multi-colored) is contrasted against the night sky.
- White dress lit in dark storefront (set idea)
- St. Agatha – breasts were cut off due to religious persecution (painting in Montpellier)
- Various painting from the Louvre where one breast is exposed or breasts are being manipulated.
- Fashion photos from French Vogue – dress with many holes, dress with breasts exposed.
- French Dance (Nudity & Eroticism in movement based pefromrance)
- Paquerette by Cecilia Bengolea & Francois
- Liquide by Christophe Haleb / La Zouze
Projections: To be created based on images of lighting, with the aim of creating an immersive experience for dancers & audience, via independent study with Terri Sarris. Also will play with ideas of exposure. Will have up to 4 projectors across back of space, 1-2 projectors on the floor, and possibly one mobile projector following dancer bodies.
Set: White dresses (either suspended or on dress forms) lit from the inside. Up to six.
Process:
- Word based explorations
- Physicalizing aspects of camera exposure.
- Exposure word associations as source for
- Image based explorations
- From influential images listed above
- Physicalizing a pose from Vogue
- Entering an environment
- Images from my head
- Spot light searching in dark, catching parts of dancer’s bodies
- Set made of dresses juxtaposed with unclothed dancers
- Pina Bausch – draw on her process of asking questions to performers about memories and experiences related to the theme to generate material.
- Collaborative
- Dancers will contribute experiences, movement, text ideas, etc.
- Potential collaboration with composer(s)
Structure:
- Overlapping & superimposed vignettes (solos, duets, trios)
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