Waking Darkness. Waiting Light.

Abstract

Waking Darkness. Waiting Light. was an evening-length dance/multimedia event performed October 7-9, 2016 at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Conceived and created collaboratively with Colette Krogol in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, the work evolved from individual research that wove together into one seamless performance. Using the choreographic elements of weight, time, light, and darkness, the work explored the action of transformation and intersections of dance, dream, and mythology. This thesis documents the research and creative process to make Waking Darkness. Waiting Light. The Monomyth Theory of comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell played a pivotal role in the research, laying a foundation for new methods of listening for universal mythic elements within a personal journey. Additionally this paper explores perspectives on how mythmaking and dance-making are similar in process, and the influence this perspective has on choreography.