Ph Photos by Gordon Wilson
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The Surrealists valued the sense of mystery and unexpected insights their practices revealed. The title "Exquisite Corpse " refers to one such practice a Surresalist "game" for creating collaborative compositions among artists of divergent aesthetics. This performance incorporates a similar strategy: all the choreographers involved knew that there work would be incorporated into a single piece, but were not allowed to see the work of the other choreographers involved. Instead each was given a list of movements, props and ideas which they might choose to include, each in his or her own way.
Performers and choreographic collaborators Carla Mann and Jim
McGinn--sought
after Portland dance artists --have performed together and individually with a
vast variety of choreographers as well as in their own work. Jim currently
performs with Oslund+Co/ Dance and serves on the board of directors of Conduit
Dance Inc. Carla Mann performs with Minh Tran & Co. and is associate
professor and chair of dance at Reed College. Carla and Jim conceived of this project for the opportunity
to work intimately with choreographers whom they had long admired, as a way
expand their capacity to embody
different sorts of work; and as framework that not only they could shape but that
could shape them.
Choreographer Mary Sheldon Scott and composer Jarrad Powell of Seattle's Scott/Powell Performance are widely recognized as important creative forces in the Pacific Northwest. Their performance research, marked by strong formal elements devoid of pop-cultural references, has resulted in a series of "mysterious and beautiful works filled with oblique references to the natural world." (The Seattle Weekly). Scott/Powell Performance has been supported by National Endowment for the Arts, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the National Performance Network Creation Fund, Artist Trust, 4Culture/King County, The MayorÕs Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs/City of Seattle, the Washington State Arts Commission, and the Washington ComposerÕs Forum. scottpowell.org
Choreographer Tahni Holt is the mastermind behind such seminal
projects as "Endless Ocean, Endless Sky" and "Island Desk".
She is a 2007 Oregon Arts Commission Fellow and her work has been supported by
PICA, On the Boards, and the Regional Arts and Culture Council. Conceptually
minded, Tahni's approach brings an exciting dimension to the work. www.tahniholt.com
Choreographic collaborators Stephan Laks and Rachel Tess of Rumpus Room Dance ave worked with such
luminaries as Mats Ek, Jiri Kylian and Ohad Naharin. As internationally touring
performers themselves they bring a nuanced approach to setting work on other
dancers, creating intricately layered choreographies of emotional power. www.rumpusroomdance.org
Heather Perkins makes music and sound for love, and for a living. As
composer, sound designer and Mad Scientist at WaterDog Studio in Portland, she
creates music and sound for dance, multimedia, animation, video, games,
theater, and live performance. Heather will be performing live shows of
electronic music throughout 2009. Her CD "Little Humans" is out now
on Land-O-Newts Records. www.waterdogstudio.com www.landonewts.com
John Bacone is a sculptor, painter, animator, and musician whose visual work ranges from abstract forms to pop-up cards. He taught in the Manhattan Art Project for three years, before moving to Portland. Since then he has completed works for the Indianapolis Zoo, SoundView Recording Studio, Polaris Dance Theatre, Tahni Holt and Holocene. vimeo.com/bacone
Lighting designer Jeff Forbes is a 9 time winner of the Willie and Drammy Awards working with such companies as Artists Repertory Theatre, Imago Theatre, the Musical Theatre Company, Storefront Theatre, Tygres Heart Shakespeare Co. , American Repertory Theatre (Cambridge, Mass), the New Rose Theatre, Portland Repertory Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Portland Actors Conservatory, and many others. He tours nationally and internationally with Imago Theater, the Deborah Hay Dance Company and Antony and the Johnsons. Jeff frequently collaborates with choreographers such as Linda Austin, Tahni Holt, Linda K Johnson, Josie Moseley, Mary Oslund, Sally Silvers, and Cydney Wilkes. He is a co-founder, with Linda Austin, of Performance Works NW, for which he also serves as technical director. wb.mac.com/jeffforbese1
Costume Designer Paloma Soledad thrives on turning the unexpected
into high fashion. Paloma's creations blend elements of fantasy with the
macabre, employing fine tailoring and detailing drawn from centuries past. Cultivating her unique style in the Hollywood
film industry, on block busters with as "Cabin Fever" ,
"Hostel", "Flintstones Viva Las Vegas" and "Spnogebob Squarepants,."
Paloma recently finished working on the Portland-based animated film
"Coraline." Paloma is a
three time winner of the Judges Choice award and Best in Show at Comicon in San Diego.
Exquisite Corpse is generously supported by the Regional Art and
Culture Council (RACC) and by the Reed College Faculty Summer Scholarship Fund.
REED COLLEGE
