Frames of Mind
"Frames of Mind" is an exploration of the relationship between the physical body and the digital self, through a theatrical combination of dance and video technology. Unlike other video accompaniment for dance that employs abstract video or found footage, the video for "Frames of Mind" is of the dancers themselves, so as to create a distinct visual and aural relationship with the live performance. Each dancer carries a television set with his or her face on the screen. In a further exploration between the television and the physical body, the piece draws on TV soap opera for movement and thematic structure.
While an initial version of "Frames of Mind" was commissioned by Cornell University's Council for the Arts, and premiered there in October 2006 (see images above), I consider the piece to be a work in progress. Part of the future evolution of "Frames of Mind" is that I will be collaborating with Bryan Boyce (Rumsfeld Rules and State of the Union) to create more complex video/dance interaction.
As both a choreographer and video artist, most of my work has focused on the mixing of the two media, whether it has been creating video art from the documentation of my own dance/performance art events, or incorporating video into my live performances. A common thread in my dance work is the juxtaposition of narrative and abstract, and I often use narrative concepts as a springboard into movement investigation. In the sketch version of this piece originally produced for Cornell University's Council for the Arts, all of the television sets were in synch, so that they appeared to be in conversation with each other. As the dancers moved about the space carrying their respective televisions, a distinct theme emerged, highlighting a feeling of separation between mind and body that is characteristic of today's culture.
Type: Dance-Theater-Video
Running time: 10 minutes
Direction/choreography and video: Catherine Galasso
Music: Tarentel, Yo La Tengo
Performances: October 2006 Cornell University, Ithaca NY
May 2007 CounterPulse, San Francisco CA
Performances by: Emiko Manners, Jenna Rea, Jacob Slominski, Emilie
Stark-Menneg (at Cornell performance)
John Blanco, Holly Fernandez, David Liu and Loren Robertson (at Counterpulse
performance)