We actually ran into the same kind of attitude (i.e. the choreography
needs/relies on superimpositions) in the review of our piece, as well.
It was rather frustrating, because the supposedly informed reviewer
seemed to have missed completely the idea of a post-modern dance work
being a gestalt.
Let me phrase the question another way: to what extent is your
choreography reliant on, say, dancers? Music? A stage? Light? The
question doesn't get asked, because it's assumed that these are
inherent in the work. <italic>So were the projections in our
piece.</italic> We didn't choreograph for dancers and then throw
projections on them. The projections were actually the starting point
that first inspired the piece, and the angularities of the slides,
staggered in an advancing progression, were part of the movement, as
was the alinear growth of the video. They were not separate from the
dance; they were a part of the piece. So to say it is a crutch in
this case is to say that, for example, the male part of a pas de deux
is just a crutch. (Of course, I know some ballerinas who might
agree...:-{)).
That was what was frustrating about the review. While in general he
liked the piece, he referred to the images as "distracting". From
what? Themselves? The dancers and images were meant to be seen in
relation to each other, not as separate pieces. And for the audience
as a whole, both dance-educated and non, that worked, to the great
satisfaction of AJ and I.
Not to say that I find anything wrong with "pure" dance (whatever that
may be). However, I am what the troika Ranch calls a "slash artist",
and as projection designer/dancer I spent equal time, if not more,
working on the projections, including their timing and movement, and
rehearsing the choreography. I love just watching dancers on the stage
alone, and I have also performed as such. But my own personal art goes
further than that, into the realm of multimedia, and I consider it an
added means of expression.
And yes, I also have seen it heavy-handed and redundant. I've designed
for dramatic productions where the director's choice in using my
projections has made me want to scream. However, I do not think that
they absolutely have to be kept apart. Like any new medium (for
example, video works) the fact that it is very easy to produce
something tends to decrease the quality and increase the quantity of
the somethings produced.
Well, I have to go get my cat neutered. But...
If by chance I have offended,
think but this and all is mended:
It's email. Delete it.
<color><param>35D2,31EC,7FFF</param>http://labweb.soemadison.wisc.edu/users/jmiller
____________________________________________________
"All seen reality is beautiful. It's man's thoughts that break the
universe."
--Brancusi</color>
</x-rich>