A process blog from the April Sellers Dance Collective’s residency at Tofte Lake Center.
June 20th-25th 2016
We will be releasing posts covering the work in progress Animal Corridor during our weeklong residency. Please check back daily for Video, Photos and Content.
A public showing of the work in progress will take place at the Tofte Lake Center Thursday June 23 | 7:30 pm
Your interview on WELY this morning was excellent! I can’t wait to read/see your posts AND the performance on Friday. Thanks for coming to Tofte Lake Center- Thea
Thank you for the kind words Thea! The performance is actually Thursday June 23 at 7:30 PM, we can’t wait to see you there!
What a lovely invitation!
“Invitation” is how I would characterize much of what I saw. Your dancers were so articulate about the manner in which they are invited into your process. Likewise, the audience was refreshing in how they expressed their experience after being invited to observe the creation of this new work. My guess is that you are quite unique in the collaborative spirit with which you create. It is a privilege to witness it.
Through these videos, we are invited to hover over all of it, imagine ourselves there with you – creating, dancing, watching – and wonder about where you will go from here with this dance. I’m hooked!
More than that though, I’ve learned something about the nature of contemporary dance, both from the creators’ point of view and the audience’s. I would think that these videos and more like them will expand your audience as well as the general interest and participation in the form.
Thank you for inviting us in.
On the theme:
The effect on the audience said a lot – intrigued, excited, a little confused. At the same time, they were all white, on the elderly side, and mostly female. I’m wondering now how a different demographic would respond. Material for more work-in-progress videos?
I keep thinking about the furry dancers rolling around in the tall grass and on the dock next to the water. I want more of that and to see what they do next. Another video with some original sounds?
While I feel fairly well smothered in aggression and masculinity (not from the men in my life of course!) We could use some imaginative exploration of these right now – of their actual use in our lives. Animal Corridor is looking like a rich vehicle for both the creators and the audience.
The concept of masculinity and femininity is always an interesting topic to explore.
Observations:
1. The video work was stellar.
2. I enjoyed the interviews with dancers and you with audience testimonies; great for work samples.
3. I wanted to see a full video of the work alone. I saw when you said it’s in pieces, if so I would’ve wanted to see the “rough” transitions or see dancers investigate through versus video jump cuts.
4. I enjoyed the section with the women adjusting the man. That created symbolism for me presenting inequality bestowed on women in our society; more more more.
Hope this helps.
Shawn