Evolution (Virtual Edition)

Evolution (Virtual Edition) is a collaborative design laboratory facilitating cutting-edge interdisciplinary experimentation in dance performance. Choreographers from the Department of Theatre and Dance join with concert and event lighting designers and composers from the School of Design and Creative Technologies to push the physical and virtual boundaries of the definition of contemporary performance in a public showcase presented in the B. Iden Payne Theatre each spring.

This year, we’re bringing a special selection of student works from Evolution to you. Presenting a month-long series of weekly performances, Evolution showcases the spirit of collaboration, innovation and ingenuity as the need to “evolve” artistic works becomes ever more critical. All performances will be hosted on our website, as well as on Vimeo, YouTube and Facebook and will be available to stream free of charge after their noted release dates.

Performances 

July 30, 2020
August 6, 2020
August 13, 2020
August 20, 2020

All virtual performances of Evolution are free and open to the public. No reservation or specialized equipment is required to view performances. 

Forgotten Yesterdays 

Choreographer: Nickolas Muckleroy
Composer: Samuel Choi
Lighting Designer: Ningmo Liu
Dancers: Maya Parker, Damion Sam

WATCH VIDEO: FORGOTTEN YESTERDAYS

Inspired by the distortion of historical events as memories become fuzzy, Forgotten Yesterdays explores the ramifications of this "historical amnesia," especially regarding the Black experience. Muckleroy, Choi and Liu collaborated with music, movement and lighting to create an eerie, haunting effect. 

re:Home

Choreographers: Atticus Griffin, Kialond Bronson Smith
Composers: Delong "Miki" Lin, Annie AbuHamad
Lighting Designer: Alex Jereb
Dancers: Cellise Brown, Sarah Wales, Azari Sumbler, Sammy Ramirez, Jenna Weatherbee, Lexie Nelson, Briah Napier

WATCH VIDEO: RE:HOME

re:Home examines the new purposes that have been layered into our everyday lives as we find ourselves confined within our homes. Inspired by a curiosity about how we, and the spaces we inhabit, have been impacted by quarantine and self-isolation, re:Home seeks to find an answer to the question “how is home changing?”

Performance 3

Choreographers: Georgina Garza, Tori Loper
Composers: Austin Blankenship, Emma Berrigan
Lighting Designer: Sara Chaney
Dancers: Lindsay Ball, Lizzy Blade, Cellise Brown, Bridget Caston, Lisette Hotz, Sammy Ramirez, Sam Rosas, Taylor Schmuelgen, Ashley Stone, Gracyn Womeldorph

WATCH VIDEO: PERFORMANCE 3

The third performance of Evolution (Virtual Edition) features ethereal music, lighting and movement, alongside layered videos to create a dreamlike effect. Exploring our experiences of memory, déjà vu and dreams, this performance evokes feelings of freedom and floating on an open ocean as a means to transport audiences to a unique dreamscape.

Performance 4

Choreographers: Kelsey Bacic, Katherine Cornell, Avery Moore
Composers: Albert Escobedo, Elaina Johnson
Lighting Designer: Alex Jereb
Dancer: Camille Wiltz

Watch Video: Performance 4

The final performance in this year’s Evolution (Virtual Edition) explores themes of identity in a virtual space, experimenting with intimate and unique movement, music, lighting and film techniques to find new ways to represent the sense of self. Crafted in collaboration with multiple dancers, the inspiration for this piece began with options for individual choice, various lighting techniques and improvisational movement, which was then combined and presented by a single dancer (Camille Wiltz), whose movements communicated the complexities of a multi-faceted individual.

Featured Designers and Choreographers 

Music Composition/ Computer Music Project 
Instructor: Chris Ozley, School of Design and Creative Technologies  

Ále Acevedo
Abdi Ruiz
Alberto Escobedo
Annie AbuHamad
Delong "Miki" Lin
Will Grantham
Ean Herrera 
Derek Haumpy
Eli Ortiz
John Taylor Chambers
Josh Tan
Lina Breining
Sam Choi
Emma Berrigan
Taylor Wood
Sofia Salter
Austin Blankenship
Elaina Johnson

Dance Choreography 
Instructor: Erica Gionfriddo, Department of Theatre and Dance

Kialond L. Bronson Smith
Alexandra Mazal Behar
Kelsey Ann Bacic
Ivana Castaneda
Lilian Margaret Collins
Georgina Irene Garza
Katherine E. Cornell
Jodi Todd DeAngelis
James Atticus Griffin
Andreina Hurtado
Victoiana Grace Loper
Mykaela Alexis Johnson
Madelyn Paige Manlove
Amanda K. Moogerfeld
Erica Patricia Saucedo
Nickolas J. Muckleroy
Kyla Rose Patton
Brooke Lea Shore
Avery Nicole Moore

Lighting Design Studio
Instructor: Michelle Habeck, Department of Theatre and Dance

Alex Jereb
Leah Benaim
Libby Jantz
Sara Chaney
Ningmo Liu

Special Thanks: Doug Dempster, Dean of the College of Fine Arts; Doreen Lorenzo, Assistant Dean, School of Design and Creative Technologies; Michael Baker, Interim Chair, Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies; Robert Ramirez, Chair, the Department of Theatre and Dance.