from Moscow’s 2007 Video Art Festival PUSTO

http://www.youtube.com/user/FilmingDance4web  

Choreographer and Dancers:  Dina Khusejn, Olga Dukhovnaya

Video Art:  Konstantin Telepalov

FilmingDance4web:  Movement Media’s NEW Video Dance Channel 

Doug Fox’s Picks for Dance and Movement Animations

One of the captivating elements of dance and animation is the diverse range of forms it can take. Among the animation techniques that can be employed to represent the body in motion, whether in a more concrete or abstract manner, include:

• 2D
• 3D
• Stop motion
• Live-action and animation hybrids
• Real-time animated graphics using motion tracking
• Visualization overlays
• Special effects
• ASCII-based animations
• Digital puppetry
• Cut-out animation
• Motion-capture based
• 2D/3D lasers
• Rotoscoped
• Virtual worlds
• Pre-cinema era animations

For Doug’s round-up of some of his favorite dance and movement animations he made selections of each of these different types of animations.  A few videos chosen by Doug couldn’t be embedded onto our blog for your viewing convenience, but we encourage you to take a minute to check out these great videos, to learn about the many types of dance and movement-based animated videos artists are creating. Enjoy!

Rotoscoped Tango dance scene from “Waking Life”:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Gabrielle Lamb’s “Quizas” mixes 2D animation and live-action footage:

Click here to view the embedded video.

“En Tus Brazos” is a narrative-based 3D animation about a tragic accident that besets a famous Argentinean Tango dancer:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Also enjoy an ASCII-based animation “TextField” by Chirstinn Whyte and Jake Messenger:

http://www.jakemessenger.plus.com/textfield-h264.mov

The Converse music video “My Drive-Thru” is based on the cut-out animation technique:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Oren Lavie’s “Her Morning Elegance” is a stop-motion music video compiled from thousands of photographs:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The “Prodigy Warrior’s Dance” combines stop-motion animation and puppetry:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Recoil Performance Group’s “Body Navigation” uses motion tracking and projectors to general real-time, interactive graphics in a performance environment:

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Trash Dance” features 3D animation and motion capture:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Lastly, Doug offers us “Anima Istanbul”, which re-creates the feeling of the pre-cinema era zoetrope effect:

http://motionographer.com/theater/if-2009-zoetrope/

Movement Media appreciates Doug sharing some of his favorite animated videodances with our readers.  As you can see, artists are making some extraordinary animations, and there will certainly be more exciting works in the future, as more artists are combine animation with dance and movement.

Doug Fox is the founder of Great Dance, one of the first dance blogs. His blog and speaking programs have primarily addressed how dance-makers can embrace the Internet and digital tools to enhance their marketing and promotional efforts. He is an active member of the dance community and serves on the Dance/NYC Advisory Board.

Doug began to study and research all forms of animation, especially as they relate to dance and movement. This research led to the creation of his dance animation educational program, which he was delighted to introduce at Movement Media’s Kinetic Cinema. Doug is continuing to expand this screening program and workshop and it will be shown on August 16th at the Hong Kong Science Museum presented by the City Contemporary Dance Company.

Doug can be reached at doug@greatdance.com and through his Great Dance website: http://greatdance.com. You can also follow his Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/dougfox.

Thank you to everyone who nominated a video for this week’s “Pop Dance Phenomenon” theme! We really enjoyed getting a chance to see your favorite viral videos!! This was the last week we were accepting submissions and nominations for our Videodance Contest. Next week will be guest curated by Doug Fox of Greatdance.com, who will be presenting wonderful dance animation videos.

If you didn’t get a chance to participate in the contest, don’t fret. We have a brand new opportunity for you! Movement Media is excited to introduce UMove, our First Annual Online Videodance Festival!! UMove will feature short dance and movement-based videos that were made specifically for the web and other new media formats. For more information about the festival and for submission details, please click here.

POP DANCE PHENOMENONS

As technological advancements continue to infiltrate our society, YouTube has emerged as the new hit-maker of today. This platform has led to the discovery of countless videos that would never have been shown on TV, and given them the chance to spread swiftly through virtual word of mouth. Although there are many videos that have gone viral on YouTube, the six that we have selected are each strong representations of one of three categories; “The Earlies,” “Global Phenomenons,” or “Sponsors/Marketing.”

The videos representing “The Earlies” are:

“Here It Goes Again” by Ok Go

Click here to view the embedded video.

and ”Evolution of Dance” by Judson Laipply

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Here it Goes Again”

The American band Ok Go struck gold when their quirky music video choreographed on treadmills was released. This video, which debuted on YouTube on July 31^st, 2006, was one of the earliest viral YouTube videos to mesmerized audiences across the world. As of 2009, it is still one of the most iconic videos of all time with over 46 million views.

“Evolution of Dance”

Judson Laipply’s “Evolution of Dance” was first put on YouTube in 2006 and became an overnight internet sensation reaching over 123 million viewers. One of the first comedy performances ever to go viral, the video features Laipply performing popular dance moves from the 1950s all the way to the present. Even now, it remains the single most watched video in the history of the web.

Our “Global Phenomenon” videos are:

“Filipino Prisoners doing Thriller”

Click here to view the embedded video.

and ”Korean Madness”

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Filipino Prisoners doing Thriller”

Featuring over 1500 inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Phillipines performing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video, this video became a surprise smash hit on YouTube. Conceived by Byron F. Garcia as an enjoyable exercise regimen for the prisoners, it has now been viewed over 30 million times throughout the globe and given the prisoners a great source of pride, proving the immense effect that YouTube has had on people and cultures worldwide. Here is a link to an earlier blog post written by Anna Brady Nuse comparing the Filipino Prison dances with Busby Berkeley and the Balinese Kecak.

“Korean Madness”

This hilarious video, which has now become a global phenomenon, was actually taken from a Korean TV show. It features two young girls singing karaoke, and from the looks of it, they are truly enjoying themselves!

Our final category this week is “Sponsors/Marketing” and our winning videos in this category are

“Where the hell is Matt” by Matt Harding

Click here to view the embedded video.

and The “T-Mobile Dance”

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Where the Hell is Matt?”

This video, which features a guy named Matt Harding performing a ridiculous and amusing dance at various locations around the world, began as a joke between friends. Over time, these videos of unexpected bursts of dance by a goofy man in exotic locations sparked a media frenzy that ultimately led to a sponsorship by Stride gum company. Stride has sponsored Matt’s last two excursions simply because they were amused by his ideas, however by associating themselves with a fun-loving guy who is a YouTube sensation, they have craftily created a more progressive brand image.

“T-Mobile Dance”

This video, which documents a brilliant publicity stunt used to promote T-Mobile, was filmed in a crowded London train station in the middle of the day. This seemingly spontaneous yet choreographically synchronized dance was a viral hit, and since then many other brands have posed similar media marketing stunts, such as the Belgian TV company’s “Sound of Music” in Central Station in Antwerp, which was our “Choreographed” videodance contest winner on June 12th.

For further intellectual discussion about these videos or any of our previous themes, please click here: Movement Media’s Weekly Online Video Dance Contest

As always, we appreciate your comments and feedback about the contest winners! We’ll be back in September. In the meantime, please submit your videos to our new UMove Videodance Festival, taking place Oct 1-31, 2009 on the web and at live screenings around the world! Deadline AUG 15Th.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a video for this week’s theme of “Public or Private.”  We were thrilled with the interest and enthusiasm that the exploration of this theme sparked.  Next week’s theme is “Pop Dance Phenomenon”.  For this theme we are asking you to nominate your favorite Youtube viral dance hit, rather than submit a work of your own (unless you happen to be the hit-maker!).  All nominations are due by July 21st, and the contest winners will be announced on July 24th.  Please scroll to the bottom of this post for more information.

This week’s winning videos are:

“Pretending to be Something, Now Coming from Nothing” by Adam McKinney and Agulhas Theatre Works representing our Public category

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Eye Vanish” by Marisa C. Hayes representing our Private category

Click here to view the embedded video.

Public or Private
As the use of social media networks continues to rise, individual’s privacy has become increasingly difficult to maintain. A huge trend on YouTube are private dances captured on video and then posted for public viewing. On the other hand, public performances not before possible, such as a site-specific work filmed in the middle of the desert, can subsequently be put online and viewed by millions. As we watched the submissions for this weeks theme, it became obvious that the formerly clear distinction between private and public is now totally ambiguous. Nearly all of the submissions could have easily fit into both categories. Ultimately, we chose two videos that we felt most strongly embraced each category.

Public: “Pretending to be Something, Now Coming from Nothing”
Adam McKinney and Agulhas Theatre Works’ “Pretending to be Something, Now Coming from Nothing,” captured the essence of a public work because it documents events performed for audiences in their native South Africa. This touching video draws attention to people who are not usually in the public eye, and generally ignored by society. Able-bodied and disabled dancers perform fluidly side by side on stages ranging from an abandoned drug house in a shanty town to a modern dance performance venue. The video evokes a sense of comradery through movement. By weaving the performances together through editing, it shows that beauty can be found everywhere, if one just gives it an opportunity to be seen.

More about Adam McKinney and this project: http://www.dnaworks.org/

Private: “Eye Vanish”
Originally created for the Moscow Outdoor Video Festival, Marisa C. Hayes’ “Eye Vanish” is a poetic and concise visualization of how new technological mediums have led us to question and alter our sense of privacy. By using a web cam, a very personal communication channel, Hayes explores where or even if a separation can be established between private and public. The dancer seems to be performing for us, the voyeurs behind the camera’s lens. Her movements are curious and deliberate, as she chooses what to reveal. In the end, she tries to break through to see into the eye that is watching her. Her eye and the camera’s eye merge and obliterate each other in a futile attempt to know what the other sees.

More about Marisa C. Hayes: http://www.marisahayes.com

Please leave us a comment, and let us know what you think about private and public, this week’s winners, and anything else you’d like to share!

Next Week’s Theme for Movement Media’s Online Video Dance Contest:
Theme: Pop Dance Phenomenon
Submissions are due by Tuesday July 21st.
Winners will be announced on Move the Frame on Friday July 24th.

As technological advancements continue to create seismic shifts in society and culture, Youtube has emerged as the new hit-maker of today. Videos by amateurs and professionals alike that would never be shown on TV are discovered all the time, and spread like tidal waves through virtual word of mouth. Video killed the radio star, and now YouTube is killing the MTV star.

In dedication to the King of Pop himself, who’s music videos defined a generation and inspired dozens of YouTube hits alone (remember the Philipino Prisoners’ “Thriller”?), for this theme, we would like you to nominate your favorite viral dance video.  What pop dance phenomenon has captured your attention?  Do you love the “Where the hell is Matt” video? Perhaps your favorite is the “T-Mobile dance.”  Whatever your favorite video may be, pass it along to us to we can showcase it on next week’s blog.  We’re excited to see your nominations.

HOW TO SUBMIT

* Submissions may be made by anyone – artists, film makers, and anyone who knows of online videos that fit the weekly themes.
* The video submitted must be under 10 minutes long.
* Pick/Submit one video to represent only one of the weekly themes.
* Send the link of the video to Movement Media
* The video submitted needs to be embeddable, ie hosted on YouTube or another sharable online video platform.
* Include a short biography/artist statement (if it is your work).
* For every submission, include a short summary that describes why you have chosen a particular video for the contest and describe how it relates to the weekly theme.
* Include a brief synopsis of the video.
* Include a link to your website (if you have one)
* Include your email address

Email all information to movementmedia@pentacle.org
If your submission is chosen for the weekly contest, we will contact you directly.

Impetus for Contest Participants

* Have your videos seen by an online audience who’s interested in movement-based video.
* Receive publicity for your work/work of others
* Receive comments and feedback
* Automatic consideration for live screening at Kinetic Cinema in NYC.
* Automatic consideration for UMOVE, Movement Media’s Online Dance Film Festival in October 2009.

UP-COMING THEMES FOR JULY:

The final week of July will be guest curated by Doug Fox of Greatdance.com.

In August, we are seeking submissions for the First Annual UMOVE Online Videodance Festival! Please see submission details here: http://movetheframe.wordpress.com/umove-festival/

“Fabric of Being” by David Wasserman representing our stage category

Click here to view the embedded video.

And

“Aldana” by Jordi Martin representing our classroom category

Click here to view the embedded video.

Classroom or Stage

For the theme “Classroom or Stage,” we imagined that one term was about how we learn and explore movement, and the other was about the execution of already learned and rehearsed movement. As we watched various videos though, the distinctions became a little less clear.  If a video  is of a dance being performed for an audience, but it is still in its experimental stages, does it fall into the category of stage or classroom? What about a piece that has been completed, but was created solely for the purpose of teaching it to others? Ultimately, we chose two videos that were similar in essence but extremely different in intention and execution.

Stage: “Fabric of Being”

This David Wasserman’s “Fabric of Being” is a representation of stage because it shows the final product of a creative process. It takes also place on a stage in a frontal format, as if to be performed before an audience. Not only is the choreography set, but the piece is also filmed in a very specific way in order to portray the artist’s vision. By incorporating beautiful choreography with unique camera work, Wasserman captivates the audience and invites them to interpret the work in their own way. The underlying concept of “no two snowflakes are alike,” provides the foundation for the piece. Wasserman explains that the piece actually delves into the depths of humanity through the personification of a snowflake. Even though the same dancer is performing the same choreography to the same music in each of the two layered wide shots, when placed side by side it is evident that the movements are not identical. Although at times the movements seem to sync up, when you look closely it is clear that the movements in one shot are drawn out slightly longer than they are in its counterpart. It is rare for a piece to work well both as a stage and filmic piece, but this work accomplishes just that with a unique and strong message.

More info on David Wasserman: www.WorldWideWass.com

Classroom: “Aldana”

Similarly to “Fabric of Being,” Jordi Martin’s “Aldana” features two dancers executing the same choreography. Unlike “Fabric of Being”, “Aldana” is not a finished and polished work. At this stage in the creative process, the choreography does not necessarily have a set purpose, but rather is an exploratory experimentation with movements, and is a great illustration of how dancers learn. A major part of a dancer’s learning process involves watching and mimicking movements. In this video the two dancers start out seeming to be in perfect sync, but as the phrase progresses, we see that the woman is following the man, and he is showing her the movements. Later in the learning process, when the movements have been refined, the dancer is able to embody the choreography and make the movements their own. “Aldana” captures the moments of new choreography being set on a dancer’s body, and the learning process that this involves.

More info on Jordi Martin: http://www.proyectocajmir.com

Please leave us a comment, and let us know what you think about classroom and stage videos, this week’s winners, and anything else you’d like to share!

Next Week’s Theme for Movement Media’s Online Video Dance Contest:

Theme: Private or Public
Submissions are due by Tuesday July 14th.
Winners will be announced on Move the Frame on Friday July 17th.
With Facebook, Twitter and social media all the rage, privacy is a hot button topic these days. Tons of people are capturing private dances on video and posting them on Youtube for public consumption. What are your thoughts on private and public, and how has his played out in your work?

Please submit or nominate a video for one of these categories and tell us how you interpreted this theme.

HOW TO SUBMIT

• Submissions may be made by anyone – artists, film makers, and anyone who knows of online videos that fit the weekly themes.
• The video submitted must be under 10 minutes long.
• Pick/Submit one video to represent only one of the weekly themes.
• Send the link of the video to Movement Media
• The video submitted needs to be embeddable, ie hosted on YouTube or another sharable online video platform.
• Include a short biography/artist statement (if it is your work).
• For every submission, include a short summary that describes why you have chosen a particular video for the contest and describe how it relates to the weekly theme.
• Include a brief synopsis of the video.
• Include a link to your website (if you have one)
• Include your email address

Email all information to movementmedia@pentacle.org
If your submission is chosen for the weekly contest, we will contact you directly.

Impetus for Contest Participants

• Have your videos seen by an online audience who’s interested in movement-based video.
• Receive publicity for your work/work of others
• Receive comments and feedback
• Automatic consideration for live screening at Kinetic Cinema in NYC.
• Automatic consideration for UMOVE, Movement Media’s Online Dance Film Festival in October 2009.

UP-COMING THEMES FOR JULY:

Week four in July: Pop Dance Phenomenon
Submissions due by July 21st. Weekly Contest winners will be announced on July 24th.

The final week of July will be guest curated by Doug Fox of Greatdance.com.

Although the first month of our Videodance Contest has come to an end, we have a whole new crop of themes for the month of July. Our next theme is “Classroom or Stage.” All submissions and nominations are due by July 7th, and the contest winners will be announced on July 10th. Please scroll to the bottom of this post for more information on how to submit.

The winning videos for this week’s Videodance Contest for the theme “Rehearsal or Performance” are:

“Chunky Move’s Mortal Engine” by Chunky Move representing our performance category

Click here to view the embedded video.

There is an issue with the YouTube embeddable player, so please go to this link to watch “Mortal Coil”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS1WALmBqUw

And

“One on One” by Caleb Custer for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet’s Project 52

Click here to view the embedded video.

Rehearsal or Performance

When watching a performance, it is easy to become so wrapped up in a piece that you lose sight of the meticulous rehearsal process behind the polished execution. This week’s theme is an examination of the dichotomy between rehearsal and performance. While strongly interconnected, the differences between these two stages in the creative process are immense. Rehearsals often function as laboratories to experiment with movement material, and then hone in on the composition and execution of the movements. Once a piece reaches the performance stage, the focus shifts to how it looks to outside viewers (the audience). At this point visual effects such as lighting, costumes, and sets are incorporated, to create a seamless magical experience for the viewer.

Performance: Chunky Move’s “Mortal Engine”

“Mortal Engine” by the iconoclastic Australian dance company, Chunky Move (http://chunkymove.com/), is unique in that it incorporates choreography and animated visual effects to create a completely new hybrid form: an “intermedia” performance. The video of the performance is very effective at capturing the magic of this mingling of media and live performance, giving us a great sense of what it was like to see it in the theater. When watching this piece, it’s hard to fathom how it was made. The performance is utterly captivating and fascinating to watch. The technology behind the piece is a program called Calypso, that uses real-time generated graphics to accompany each dancer’s movements. To create the incredible effects shown on the stage, a projector shoots onto the floor, next to an infrared camera, which is next to infrared lights. Nick Roux, the operator for another performance by Chunky Move using this technology entitled “Glow,” explains that the camera, which is lined up exactly with the image of the projector, tracks the movement of the dancer and sends it to a computer running the program Calypso. The operator then responds to the choreography through a series of cues to create the stunning visual effects that move in time with the dancers. The sophistication of technology for real-time performance has made giant advances in recent years. Chunky Move has utilized these new technologies to great effect, making work that not only breaks technological barriers, but is also artistically innovative.

Rehearsal: “One on One” by Caleb Custer for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet’s Project 52
Our winning rehearsal video, “One on One” is part of Project 52, a series of one-minute videos being posted each week for an entire year by Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (http://www.cedarlakedance.com/). Each video is intended to give audiences a window into the company’s rehearsal process and give them information about the new pieces they are working on. “One on One” is about the exploratory zone of the rehearsal process in which the dancer must find the specific intention behind each movement in order to execute it with precision. In this video the rehearsal director explains that you cannot expect a dancer to fully absorb the information or grasp the concept of each movement after one rehearsal. Time must be spent one on one with the dancer in order to give the important information necessary to fully comprehend the movements. The rigorous concentration required for each movement is what makes rehearsing dance such a complex and extensive process.

Project 52 is a great example of how a dance company can continue to engage audiences even when they are off-stage. By showing the vigorous work that goes into each polished performance, audiences gain new appreciation for what they see, and are more informed about the piece. Dance is one of the most misunderstood art forms. A common question from audiences after seeing a modern dance performance is, What was that supposed to be about? An online rehearsal video series like Cedar Lake’s Project 52 can help audiences feel more clued into the performance they are watching, and give them a much richer and more meaningful experience.

Please leave us a comment, and let us know what you think about rehearsal and performance videos, this week’s winners, and anything else you’d like to share!

Next Week’s Theme for Movement Media’s Online Video Dance Contest

Theme: Classroom or Stage

Submissions are due by Tuesday July 7th.

Winners will be announced on Move the Frame on Friday July 10th.

Classroom could mean training videos, how-to videos, dance teachers and students, field study, or any other learning environment. Stage could mean performance, showing before an audience (of any size), the completion of a course of study, or any other final stage of a creative/learning process.

Please submit or nominate a video for one of these categories and tell us how you interpreted this theme.

HOW TO SUBMIT

• Submissions may be made by anyone – artists, film makers, and anyone who knows of online videos that fit the weekly themes.
• The video submitted must be under 10 minutes long.
• Pick/Submit one video to represent only one of the weekly themes.
• Send the link of the video to Movement Media
• The video submitted needs to be embeddable, ie hosted on YouTube or another sharable online video platform.
• Include a short biography/artist statement (if it is your work).
• For every submission, include a short summary that describes why you have chosen a particular video for the contest and describe how it relates to the weekly theme.
• Include a brief synopsis of the video.
• Include a link to your website (if you have one)
• Include your email address

Email all information to movementmedia@pentacle.org
If your submission is chosen for the weekly contest, we will contact you directly

Impetus for Contest Participants

• Have your videos seen by an online audience who’s interested in movement-based video.
• Receive publicity for your work/work of others
• Receive comments and feedback
• Automatic consideration for live screening at Kinetic Cinema in NYC.
• Automatic consideration for UMOVE, Movement Media’s Online Dance Film Festival in October 2009 (information and submission guidelines to be announced in early July).

UP-COMING THEMES FOR JULY:

Week three: Private or Public
Submissions due by July 14th. Weekly Contest winners will be announced on July 17th.

Week four: Pop Dance Phenomenon
Submissions due by July 21st. Weekly Contest winners will be announced on July 24th.

The final week of July will be guest curated by Doug Fox of Greatdance.com.

This week, as a tribute to the first days of summer, we explored the theme, “Summer or Winter.” Here in the Northeast United States at least, summer has not really been evident yet. We’ve had weeks of rain and coolish temperatures. Solstice was marked by more of the same. While no one relishes sweltering heat and humidity, it would still be nice to know if summer is ever going to arrive… Against this strange weather back-drop, it was delightful to watch the submissions for this week, which were unambiguously rooted in their appointed seasons.

Most of the works we received were site-specific and dealt with the elemental nature of the seasons. Others took an abstract/conceptual approach, and explored the inner psychological states of winter (isolation, sparseness, coldness) and summer (nurturing, abundance, warmth). For us, this pair of themes seemed like a good opportunity to acknowledge the attraction dancers have to making site-specific videos. One of the first things most dancers do with a camera is to escape the studio and the stage, and go outside to dance. Who can resist frolicking in the grass or rolling in the snow? Dancers are endlessly fascinated with trying to capture the experience of moving and interacting with the natural world. Just like most poems are about nature, most dance films are too. As humans, we tend to think that we are separate from the rest of the animal kingdom, but our biology seems to belie this belief. Dancers, being more grounded in their bodies than most, are particularly attuned to the wild/animal sides of our natures. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that they use the camera to practice their craft closer to the elements that truly inspire them to move.

Without further ado, the winners this week are…

“Thaw” by Marta Renzi to represent the winter category

And

“Summer Day Daily Dance” by Lee Atwell to represent the summer category.

“Thaw” by Marta Renzi

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.844817&w=425&h=350&fv=]

“Thaw” emanates a sense of winter through every aspect of the piece from the landscape and lighting to the choreography. The bare trees and wintry colors accentuated by the lighting of the film render a bleak portrayal of the season, as well as the earthly magic that a thawing winter creates. The film explores the fluidity and beauty that emerges from the seemingly lifeless frigidity of winter. The gracefulness of the dancers’ movements accompanied by their long flowing costumes personifies the melting of the ice. Additionally, the use of the swan, a symbolically graceful animal, further emphasizes the constant flow of the seasonal cycles.

Marta Renzi’s first dance video was YOU LITTLE WILD HEART, a half-hour for PBS, to music by Bruce Springsteen, made for the WGBH New Television Workshop in 1981. In 1989, collaborating with independent filmmaker John Sayles, she made MOUNTAINVIEW, for Alive From Off-Center. Many years after those well-funded projects, Renzi began self-producing video dances in 2005. They have shown in festivals nationally, internationally and on the web. http://martarenzi.blogspot.com

“Summer Day Daily Dance” by Lee Atwell

Click here to view the embedded video.

Similarly to “Thaw”, this video portrays an deep relationship with the landscape and embraces the spirit of summer. Although initially the camera is focused on Atwell, as the view pans up, it captures the absolute beauty of the surroundings. This video doesn’t try to make a statement or define summer in a particular way. Rather, it embraces the ever-shifting presence of the moment, a core value of the Eastern inspired Butoh dance form that Atwell practices.

Lee Atwell writes: i am new to dance and butoh (less than 6 months experience), and my mentor is maureen ‘momo’ freehill who created ‘daily dance’ honoring 50 years of butoh in 2009.  i have been dancing daily and recording them since the beginning of january of this year. it is my hope and intention to embody the soul through this incredible creative expression. http://www.youtube.com/user/pamelaleeatwell

Let us know what you think about site-specific dance videos, this week’s winners, and anything else you’d like to share!

Next Week’s Theme for Movement Media’s Online Video Dance Contest

Theme: Rehearsal or Performance

Submissions are due by Tuesday June 30th.

Winners will be announced on Move the Frame on Friday July 3rd.

Video is an important part of most dancers’ rehearsal processes, as well as documenting the finished work in performance. Sometimes, when approached creatively and with attention, the documentation becomes a work of art in itself. We are seeking interesting ways of capturing rehearsals and performances on video. Please let us know which category your video applies to, and why.

HOW TO SUBMIT

• Submissions may be made by anyone – artists, film makers, and anyone who knows of online videos that fit the weekly themes.
• The video submitted must be under 10 minutes long.
• Pick/Submit one video to represent only one of the weekly themes.
• Send the link of the video to Movement Media
• The video submitted needs to be embeddable, ie hosted on YouTube or another sharable online video platform.
• Include a short biography/artist statement (if it is your work).
• For every submission, include a short summary that describes why you have chosen a particular video for the contest and describe how it relates to the weekly theme.
• Include a brief synopsis of the video.
• Include a link to your website (if you have one)
• Include your email address

Email all information to movementmedia@pentacle.org
If your submission is chosen for the weekly contest, we will contact you directly

Impetus for Contest Participants

• Have your videos seen by an online audience who’s interested in movement-based video.
• Receive publicity for your work/work of others
• Receive comments and feedback
• Automatic consideration for live screening at Kinetic Cinema in NYC.
• Automatic consideration for UMOVE, Movement Media’s Online Dance Film Festival in October 2009 (information and submission guidelines to be announced in early July).

UP-COMING THEMES FOR JULY:

Week one: Rehearsal or Performance
Submissions due by June 30th. Weekly Contest winners will be announced on July 3rd.

Week two: Classroom or Stage
Submissions due by July 7th. Weekly Contest winners will be announced on July 10th.

Week three: Private or Public
Submissions due by July 14th. Weekly Contest winners will be announced on July 17th.

Week four: Pop Dance Phenomenon
Submissions due by July 21st. Weekly Contest winners will be announced on July 24th.

The final week of July will be guest curated by Doug Fox of Greatdance.com.

Modern or Classical

This week’s theme was Modern or Classical as it applies to the styles of filming, choreography, and music. We discovered in viewing the submissions, that there were a great deal of gray areas in trying to categorize a piece under one specific style. If a piece was comprised of both choreography and music that was highly classical, but used a filming technique that was hi-tech or contemporary, which category did it fall into? What about if the dancing style was modern, but the piece was filmed using a strictly classical technique? We found that it was often tricky to determine which style predominantly overshadowed the other in each work. Out of this ambiguity one submission emerged that we felt represented both styles strongly and in equal measure.

Our winner for both categories this week is…

“Arabesque” by Peter William Holden

Arabesque

Click here to view the embedded video.

While the complicated technology used to create the kinetic sculpture in this video seems to categorize it as a modern work, other aspects of the film are highly classical. For starters, the piece is choreographed to the renowned Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss. Additionally, the kaleidoscopic choreography that Holden creates with the mechanical arms and legs, as well as the aerial camera view, are reminiscent of Busby Berkley’s classic films. Holden’s innovative dance video combines classical film and choreographic styles with modern elements such as the technology needed to operate and coordinate the sculpture. Therefore, this video is both highly modern and classical.

Refreshingly, this is the first video we’ve showcased that was made by an artist from a visual arts background. We love to see artists of all disciplines working with kinetic forms and media. Video artists, animators, installation artists, and film-makers of all kinds are encouraged and invited to submit their work!

About the artist:

Peter William Holden was born in a decaying post industrial town in Northern England in 1970, and from an early age became fascinated with moving imagery, transformation and technology.

The abstract pixels of the 1980’s home computer gave him a glimpse into the wonderful world of mathematics. Early Electro and Hip-Hop with its synthetic sound introduced him to the complex dance routines of break-dance and acquainted him with the beauty of choreographed movement. These and countless more experiences are incorporated in his installations in a collage of movement, light and sound.

His work has been exhibited at various international events Ars Electronica, Linz. Technologically Expanded Dance, Lisbon. Kapelica Gallery, Ljubljana. e-Arts, Shanghai. boDig 08, Istanbul. Vooruit, Gent. Cinéma Le Miroir, Marseilles. More info: www.peter-william-holden.com

We would like to open up some questions to our audience regarding Classical versus Modern Styles.

• Do you prefer Classical or Modern Styles?
• Do you feel that you work in a particular style, or a combination of styles?
• Do you think that videos of Classical styles or Modern styles work better for online viewing?  For example, Classical dance styles often value symmetry and a balanced composition, and tend to be more story-based.  On the other hand, Modern dance styles often showcase abstract themes, such as social and political views, and movement that is based in individual expression and having the artistic product relay that intellectual or emotional process.
• Do you find more Classical style dance companies using technology to post their works online than Modern styles?  Why might there be a difference?

We would love to hear your comments.

Next Week’s Categories for Movement Media’s Online Video Dance Contest

Theme Four: Summer or Winter

Submissions are due by June 23rd.

Winners will be announced on Move the Frame on June 26th.

We felt that in honor of the first day of summer, it would be fun to explore the theme Summer or Winter, and if you live in the Northeast U.S. it is actually feeling more wintery these days than summery…This is a theme that can be very literally interpreted, but at the same time presents the potential to inspire a vast array of site-specific works. We are looking for any interpretation that you may have of summer or winter. Does a film fall into the category of summer simply because it is filmed in a warm location? Can a sense of warmth between individuals evoke a feeling of summer? Does cold weather immediately classify a film as winter? Often a site specific piece can unintentionally be classified into one of these two themes. While we created this theme with the intention of focusing mostly on the location of each film and how it is incorporated into the piece or why it is chosen, we are open to any interpretation that you may offer us. Just make sure to tell us which category the work falls under and why.

HOW TO SUBMIT

* Submissions may be made by anyone – artists, film makers, and anyone who knows of online videos that fit the weekly themes.
* The video submitted must be under 10 minutes long.
* Pick/Submit one video to represent only one of the weekly themes.
* Send the link of the video to Movement Media
* The video submitted needs to be embeddable, ie hosted on YouTube or another sharable online video platform.
* Include a short biography/artist statement (if it is your work).
* For every submission, include a short summary that describes why you have chosen a particular video for the contest and describe how it relates to the weekly theme.
* Include a brief synopsis of the video.
* Include a link to your website (if you have one)
* Include your email address
Email all information to movementmedia@pentacle.org
If your submission is chosen for the weekly contest, we will contact you directly

Impetus for Contest Participants

* Have your videos seen by an online audience who’s interested in movement-based video.
* Receive publicity for your work/work of others
* Receive comments and feedback
* Automatic consideration for live screening at Kinetic Cinema in NYC.
* Automatic consideration for Movement Media’s Online Dance Film Festival in September 2009 (information and submission guidelines to be announced in late June).

If you didn’t get a chance to participate this week, fear not! This contest will be happening every week so there are plenty of chances to submit your work or nominate the work of others. Our next theme is Modern or Classical. All submissions are due by June 16th, and the contest winners will be announced on June 19th. Please scroll to the bottom of this post for more details on next week’s contest.

This week we explored the theme: Improvised or Choreographed. As we looked at the this week’s submissions and nominations, many questions came up for us about what makes a work primarily improvised or choreographed. Could a piece be considered improvised if the dancing was choreographed but the camera work was improvised? What if only one performer was choreographed while the rest are improvising? Does a planned and highly structured improvisation fit better in the category of choreographed? While there may be no definitive answers to these questions, the winning videos this week were chosen in part because they seemed to fit together as a contrasting pair, like two sides of the same coin. Both were shot in site-specific locations, and involve pedestrian spectators reacting to spontaneous performances by trained dancers. There is an element of surprise in each, but the level of control and pre-meditated planning seem to be vastly different.

Without further adieu, this week’s winners are….

“Contrust” an excerpt from Chapter 4, by Elad Weissman and Teddy Productions in Israel.

And

“Sound of Music | Central Station Antwerp (Belgium),” produced by Vtm in Belgium.

IMPROVISED

“Contrust” an excerpt from Chapter 4, by Elad Weissman and Teddy Productions

Click here to view the embedded video.

This video is an excerpt from Elad Weissman’s 2007 film about ten dancers dealing with love and fear in an ultra-urban world. (Fun fact: The dancers in this film are famous in Israel for being contestants in “Nolad Lirkod – Born to Dance” a reality tv show, similar to America’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”) While the dancer in this excerpt may have had some choreographic direction, for the most part his movements look improvised. Additionally, the camera work is reactive to his movements and has an unplanned, spontaneous feel. One gets the sense that this shoot was set up on the street with very little premeditated planning, except to capture a dark urban street environment within which to improvise. We get to see real spectators’ reactions, and their surprised faces tell us that this performance is strange and spontaneous. This excerpt is one of several chapters from Weissman’s 42 min film that are viewable on YouTube. Each are site specific, and consists of a dancer or dancers interpreting and embracing the mood that the music and location exert.

CHOREOGRAPHED

Sound of Music | Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

Click here to view the embedded video.

This video documents a publicity stunt that was used to promote a Belgian television show looking for non-actors to audition for the “Sound of Music.” Like the famous “T-Mobile dance” that took place in a crowded London Train station, this piece simulates a flash mob convening to perform a choreographed routine to the Sound of Music. What makes these kinds of stunts so brilliant is that no one knows who is a real innocent bystander, and who is in on the act. Throughout the piece almost two hundred performers pop into the dance, all disguised as pedestrians from all walks of life. The element of surprise in this piece gives it an improvisational feel, however the coordination necessary to pull off such a massive stunt is only possible through meticulous choreography.

Now tell us what  you think! We look forward to hearing your thoughts on what is “Improvised” and “Choreographed”.

NEXT WEEK’S CONTEST

Theme Three: Modern or Classical
Submissions are due by Tuesday June 16th. Winners will be announced on Move the Frame on June 19th.

Modern and classical – what do these terms mean to you? For classical dance you may think of ballet or other traditional and highly refined styles such as Baratya Natyam and Kabuki Theatre. Modern dance may be anything that came after Isadora Duncan or, you may think only post-modern/post-Judson Church dance is truly modern now. Film also has modern and classical styles such as the Silent era and Hollywood classics versus the French New Wave and New American Cinema. For next week’s theme we want to examine both the styles and execution of dance as well as the filming techniques used. What is it that differentiates them? Submit or nominate a film for one of the categories and tell us why.

HOW TO SUBMIT

* Submissions may be made by anyone – artists, film makers, and anyone who knows of online videos that fit the weekly themes.
* The video submitted must be under 10 minutes long.
* Pick/Submit one video to represent only one of the weekly themes.
* Send the link of the video to Movement Media
* The video submitted needs to be embeddable, ie hosted on YouTube or another sharable online video platform.
* Include a short biography/artist statement (if it is your work).
* For every submission, include a short summary that describes why you have chosen a particular video for the contest and describe how it relates to the weekly theme.
* Include a brief synopsis of the video.
* Include a link to your website (if you have one)
* Include your email address
Email all information to movementmedia@pentacle.org
If your submission is chosen for the weekly contest, we will contact you directly

Impetus for Contest Participants

* Have your videos seen by an online audience who’s interested in movement-based video.
* Receive publicity for your work/work of others
* Receive comments and feedback
* Automatic consideration for live screening at Kinetic Cinema in NYC.
* Automatic consideration for Movement Media’s Online Dance Film Festival in September 2009 (information and submission guidelines to be announced in late June).

First of all, we want to thank everyone who graciously submitted their work for the first week of our videodance contest. We appreciated getting to see the variety approaches you took to capturing dance and movement on screen.

If you missed out this time, don’t dismay! This contest is happening every week, and there are plenty of chances to submit your work, or nominate the work of others. Please scroll to the bottom of this post to read about next week’s contest.

Amateur or Professional?

The theme we chose to kick things off first with was “Amateur or Professional.” For most of us, these words are loaded with connotations, many negative. Most often they are used to pass judgment on one’s job, performance, attitude or work. On the other hand, concepts about these terms are changing rapidly in the age of Web 2.0, as open access to social media is ushering in the rise of amateurism (and the fall of many old media industries) in what some sociologists and trend-spotters are calling the “Pro/Am” revolution. For our purposes, we hoped this theme would provoke an interesting discussion in the dance/film community about what these terms mean, and what the merits are of both approaches.

After viewing this week’s video submissions, it became apparent that the distinctions between amateur and professional are blurry at best. A professional can create an amateur film by incorporating the lightheartedness and innocence that an amateur film often possesses. Conversely, a professional video may include simple everyday movements that are universally used by individuals as they conduct their daily routines.

Therefore, this week’s winners are… (drum roll please)

‘Snew’: Videodance representing the Amateur Category, Co-directed by Jody Oberfelder and David Lachman

AND

‘Drive’: Videodance representing the Professional Category, Choreographed and directed by Jane Osborne.

Snew

Click here to view the embedded video.

Although this video was made by professionals, it embraces the essence of amateurism, which is something made purely for the enjoyment of it rather than for professional advancement. The tone of the film is extremely playful as it explores the joys and nuances of life that the media overlooks. The film’s directors used Snew to delve into the connections that are made through language that is not yet tangible. Director Jody Oberfelder wrote that the film, “focuses on the life that happens in between bits of information in a media saturated world.”

Snew also gives an intimate and highly entertaining look into the creative process. Long before a work reaches the stage or screen, it is formed slowly and inconspicuously through long sessions of play, experimentation and [what looks like] pure silliness in the studio. Snew embraces this process, and that unselfconscious state where all the best stuff happens.

Drive

Click here to view the embedded video.

Jane Osborne’s ‘Drive’ takes us on an exploration of daily routine from both micro and macroscopic viewpoints, which illustrates the subconscious force that propels us through our days.  It is clear that a lot of planning was involved in making this film, from shooting to editing, resulting in a high quality production.  Elements of professionalism include the variety of locations used to shoot the film, sophisticated choreographed movements, multiple camera angles, and detailed choreography done with the camera.  We found this videodance to be both creative and stylistic, and an excellent example of Professional work.

Not only is the work professional, it is also a commentary on professionalism itself. On the one hand, being a “professional” is a badge of honor in our society, and an expectation for being a good citizen. However as we see in ‘Drive’ the daily reality of being a professional can be dull and mind-numbing. The characters’ lack of purpose and self direction to make choices is characteristic of the stereotypical “wage slave” in which a person’s livelihood and identity is completely dependent upon earning wages. In his 1791 book On the Limits of State Action, the classical liberal thinker Wilhelm von Humboldt said, “whatever does not spring from a man’s free choice, or is only the result of instruction and guidance, does not enter into his very nature; he does not perform it with truly human energies, but merely with mechanical exactness.” No one wants to admit they live in this place, however a majority of people persist in unfulfilling jobs, feeling powerless to leave a regular paycheck in pursuit of “frivolous” dreams.

The Artist’s Path

Fifty years ago in France, there were a few film buffs with desk jobs in a magazine who picked up 16mm cameras and shot personal films with tiny budgets, completely outside of the mainstream industry. These characteristics would make them fall in the hobbyist or amateur category in the eyes of many people. Yet, these filmmakers revolutionized the medium with the French New Wave and achieved the highest stature in movie history along with their more “professional” peers and idols. I wonder who could dare call Godard and Truffaut “amateurs”?

Cameras don’t make films; film-makers make films. Film-makers improve their abilities not by adding more equipment and personnel but by using what they have to their fullest capacity. The most important part of a film-maker’s equipment is oneself: one’s mobile body, one’s imaginative mind, and one’s freedom to use both.

Part 2 of ‘Drive’ is available on YouTube, and you can learn more about director Jane Osborne on her website: http://janeosborne.com/drive/

Learn more about ‘Snew’ and co-director Jody Oberfelder on her website: http://www.jodyoberfelder.com

We would love to hear your comments on the contest winner’s work.

Submit videos for next week’s videodance theme:

Theme Two:  Improvised or Choreographed

Submissions due by Tuesday June 9th. Weekly Contest winners will be announced on Move the Frame June 12th.

Choreography vs. Improvisation, what is the main difference?  When improvising, decisions are being made every split second, while during a choreographic process a choreographer may have days, weeks or months to work on a sequence of movements.  For this week’s theme we are looking for any type of improvision or choreography, from the movement of the dancers to the camera work and editing. Perhaps the dance is choreographed and the camera movement was improvised, or the movement was improvised and the camera work and editing was highly choreographed. Any variation will do, but be sure to tell us which category the work falls under and why.

We look forward to your submissions.

Submission Requirements

* Submissions may be made by anyone – artists, film makers, and anyone who knows of online videos that fit the weekly themes.
* The video submitted must be under 10 minutes long.
* Pick/Submit one video to represent only one of the weekly themes.
* Send the link of the video to Movement Media
* The video submitted needs to be embeddable, ie hosted on YouTube or another sharable online video platform.
* Include a short biography/artist statement (if it is your work).
* For every submission, include a short summary that describes why you have chosen a particular video for the contest and describe how it relates to the weekly theme.
* Include a brief synopsis of the video.
* Include a link to your website (if you have one)
* Include your email address
Email all information to movementmedia@pentacle.org
If your submission is chosen for the weekly contest, we will contact you directly

Impetus for Contest Participants

* Have your videos seen by an online audience who’s interested in movement-based video.
* Receive publicity for your work/work of others
* Receive comments and feedback
* Automatic consideration for live screening at Kinetic Cinema in NYC.
* Automatic consideration for Movement Media’s Online Dance Film Festival in September 2009 (information and submission guidelines to be announced in late June).