alicia
  anger
  aqua madora
  balada del güetbac
  blue
  the cheshire cat
  cross channel
  city _ m-y
  i am yours as you are mine
  i left you on a cold day in december
  jetta
  one wall —for john cage
  pressure
  room
  shiver

cross channel

“Cross Channel” is an exploration of control and interaction. When two forces come together to interact, how are their roles determined? Who leads and who follows—if anyone? The piece seeks to expose this struggle through the use of two physical elements: sound (the music) and movement (the dance). The piece begins with the dancers’ singing dictating the elements of timing and melody, thus music is born out of dance. These melodies are continually layered and restructured by a computer which is manipulated by an off-stage musician. As this practice progresses the music grows increasingly rich and saturated, eventually causing the relationship to come to a crashing halt. Both music and movement cease, leaving behind only the sound of exhausted breathing. This sound then begins to reform itself into rhythms that propel the following section of choreography where—in direct opposition to the opening section—dance is subject to the music. Their voices are still the sources of sound, but this time the musician samples freely from both past and current melodies, consequently controlling their movement. The relationship between the dancers’ movements also reflects the conceits present in the formation of the music. The movement explores the way in which people take on each other’s patterns and habits, to question the complexity of self-control and personality. Though the conceptual exploration appears complex, the execution of the piece is in effect rather minimal and sparse.

The choreography in “Cross Channel” is directly derived from a desire to effectively incorporate live music into dance. The technology, of central importance to this creation, is careful to serve the movement rather than impose itself on it, creating a subtle and original structure. Combined, these elements work to endow and rob the dancers of control, bringing into question its existence, role and ultimate importance.

Set to Premiere in the 2006-2007 season

  listen to sound excerpt | quicktime required