Dance and Camera workshop; accessible, sustainable practice with hand-held devices (Jennifer Nikolai)
The purpose of this online workshop is to encourage a camera-dancer dyadic relationship; a synergy between moving bodies and hand-held recording devices. Affordable, accessible, light-weight devices in the hands of the dancer, teacher or choreographer, fosters an adaptive approach to keep it moving.
Retaining access to our like-minded communities, to current and future ways of moving together; guide this dance and camera workshop toward dance-making in isolation, in shared spaces or online. During the Global pandemic we aim to move with communities that we care for and move in order to connect, beyond isolation. Dancers, teachers, practitioners of all experiences and levels are welcome. We will workshop how to capture/compose within the frame, utilizing devices we have in our hands or in our homes. The intention is to support preparation for screendance curatorial calls, or towards pedagogy aimed at capturing footage of us dancing in small spaces; sharing those dances in safe, virtual settings. Participants will be exposed to framing movement, camera angles, camera moves and screendance conventions. Workshop provocations can be adapted using a
tripod, Gopro or an HD camera. Provocations inspired by one of Erin Manning’s (2016) propositions for thinking in action, to: Dwell in the Transversal (Keep Moving)... will support an ethos of care, adaptability and ease; sustaining dance practice, performance and dance pedagogy (live or digital).
As teacher/dancer/choreographer, I will apply vocabulary applicable to improvisational approaches, site-specific shoots and interior movement studies. The desired outcome is toward inclusive, accessible dance making and capturing of footage to be shared with creative communities; as we dance in isolation and transition into shared, safe spaces in the future. The camera-dancer is a term I’ve developed to accentuate dyadic possibilities encouraged by the mobile camera operator as the dancer.
Tharp, T. (2019). Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Moving as we mature is emphasized towards sustaining healthy practice throughout the ageing
process.
Manning E. (2016) Ten Propositions for Research-Creation. In: Colin N., Sachsenmaier S. (eds)
Collaboration in Performance Practice. Palgrave Macmillan, London.
https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137462466_7
Retaining access to our like-minded communities, to current and future ways of moving together; guide this dance and camera workshop toward dance-making in isolation, in shared spaces or online. During the Global pandemic we aim to move with communities that we care for and move in order to connect, beyond isolation. Dancers, teachers, practitioners of all experiences and levels are welcome. We will workshop how to capture/compose within the frame, utilizing devices we have in our hands or in our homes. The intention is to support preparation for screendance curatorial calls, or towards pedagogy aimed at capturing footage of us dancing in small spaces; sharing those dances in safe, virtual settings. Participants will be exposed to framing movement, camera angles, camera moves and screendance conventions. Workshop provocations can be adapted using a
tripod, Gopro or an HD camera. Provocations inspired by one of Erin Manning’s (2016) propositions for thinking in action, to: Dwell in the Transversal (Keep Moving)... will support an ethos of care, adaptability and ease; sustaining dance practice, performance and dance pedagogy (live or digital).
As teacher/dancer/choreographer, I will apply vocabulary applicable to improvisational approaches, site-specific shoots and interior movement studies. The desired outcome is toward inclusive, accessible dance making and capturing of footage to be shared with creative communities; as we dance in isolation and transition into shared, safe spaces in the future. The camera-dancer is a term I’ve developed to accentuate dyadic possibilities encouraged by the mobile camera operator as the dancer.
Tharp, T. (2019). Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Moving as we mature is emphasized towards sustaining healthy practice throughout the ageing
process.
Manning E. (2016) Ten Propositions for Research-Creation. In: Colin N., Sachsenmaier S. (eds)
Collaboration in Performance Practice. Palgrave Macmillan, London.
https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137462466_7
Jennifer Nikolai
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Jennifer Nikolai (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer, contemporary dance practitioner and performance studies scholar. Her studio-based, emergent methodology informs live and digital interactivity in performance making and staging. Camera dramaturgy, improvisation and critical approaches to collaborative making are applied in the studio, in screendance and community settings. Her research spans mobile camera improvisation, motion capture and VR, as well as learning and teaching in a range of movement contexts including physical activity, health, well-being, risky play and ‘dancing as we mature’. She conducts research in Canada and New Zealand, her country of origin and her country of residency, respectfully. Jennifer lectures and supervises Postgraduate research The faculty of health and Environmental Sciences and Design and Creative Technologies at AUT, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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