Combining Forces

Abstract

Throughout my dance studies at Ohio State, I developed a special interest in integrating dance with multimedia. My senior project, Combining Forces, is a choreographic dance study uniting human movement with video media. The project is a collaborative effort between the visionary dance choreographer Salim Gauwloos and myself. Gauwloos, an accredited New York City choreographer, created the project’s movement. His dance style blends ascetics from jazz, ballet, and modern dance, and together creates his individual style of contemporary dance. I rehearsed with Gauwloos over a five-day period in New York City. I learned the choreography and the approach behind each individual movement. Through this process, I developed a deeper kinesthetic awareness and appreciation for the movement. I used unique movements in Gauwloos’ choreography to serve as inspiration for the video design. The contrasting abstract and concrete images from Gauwloos’ choreography were the starting point in developing the video. I was faced with the challenge of how to successfully integrate my interpretation of the images to a video treatment, which would serve to compliment and enhance Gauwloos’ choreography. The research has taken place throughout winter and spring. The project’s premiere performance will take place at the Senior Dance Concert in late May 2008. I am continuing to study and investigate Gauwloos' movement. In doing so, I am developing a more knowledgeable approach to fully engage the whole body in the performance of his choreography. The video’s main purpose is developing as another visual reference for the audience to take in information while viewing the performance. When watching the performance an audience participant will be challenged to make decisions about their focus. The body’s live movement in combination with video projection transforms the stage into a dance and technology experience. The project, Combing Forces, is very important to my research as a dancer performer and designer. The process of working with a professional choreographer, like Salim Gauwloos, was exciting and rewarding, and enhanced my growth as a dance performer. The knowledge that I learned through this project will serve as a reference for future endeavors as an artist. Combining Forces pushes the boundaries in dance performance and performing arts by combining more than one visual medium. This media in performance project serves as a jumping off point for more personal explorations and creations.