Place(d)

Abstract

For a little girl who never went outside, who hated the outdoors, and who would not even consider getting dirty, I am astonished that my Masters Thesis was an evening length outdoor site-specific dance work where performers danced in a courtyard of mulch, hung from trees, and ran through audiences. This thesis chronicles my collaborative journey of making Place(d), an investigation of the relationship between that which exists in a place and that which is placed in a space. I will explore my collaborations with nine dancers, one sound composer, two musicians, a videographer, myself as a costume designer, and other service related personnel. I will also look at how placing sound and movement in the space constructed time, altered perception, and taught me about the beauty of an ensemble. Above all, place, both the literal and abstract idea, functions as the indicator for creation and analysis.