THE VIDEODANCE PROJECT, a production of ARC Videodance, presents the dance works of recognized choreographers created specifically for television. These are not stage works adopted for video presentation, but rather new “videodances” created especially for the television camera.

John J. O’Connor, writing in the New York Times says, “…perhaps the most surprising and admirable aspect of their (Ms. Ipiotis’ and Mr. Bush’s) work is the near total absence of easy video tricks… the focus is kept closely on movement… This is important work, essential for anyone interested in either dance or video.”

VIDEODANCE VOLUME ONE

25 minutes 1981
color
The boundless dimensions of dance are transformed by intermingling dance and camera movements with a medley of historical, modern and improvisational dance sequences.

Dance Selections:

  • SUITE FANTAISISTE 8:45
    by Catherine Turocy.
    Baroque humor and mystique surround the flirtatious fan-language and commedia dell’arte figure.
  • HERALD’S ROUND 7:40
    by Peter Sparling.
    An athletic solo repeating the dance image in triplicate.
  • ETUDE IN FREE 8:05
    by Dianne McIntyre.
    A suite of jazz-stimulated dances performed to an original soundtrack inspired by the body’s natural beats.

IMAGES IN DISTRACTED TIME

20 minutes 1980
color and black & white
An intimate collection of videodance creations including the award-winning MOTHERLESS CHILD IV. All pieces exemplify the fluid technique of seamless camera/movement interaction pioneered by Bush and Ipiotis.

FOUR MOVES IN SPACE: A VIDEODANCE SUITE

29 minutes 1980
color

From the intensely stark A PITY to the multi-layered, chroma-faceted GALAXY EBB TIDE, these pieces yield a captivating panorama of options in videodance.

Dance Selections:

  • A PITY 7:10
  • CHAPPAQUIDDICK EVENING SONG 4:22
  • CRIMSON BLUE 3:51
  • GALAXY EBB TIDE 11:55

TERRAINS

30 minutes 1978
black & white
Three nude studies by Jeff Bush. The video screen becomes a window upon intense image composition which shifts subtly in response to contrasting contours.

TENTACLE

“Bone Dream” 7:00
and
“Tentacle” 7:00
color
EIKO & KOMA
Timeless images of bodies suspended in space and transformed into mesmerizing dreamscapes of humanity.

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOTAPES

DANCE ON VIDEO:
AN INTRODUCTION TO VIDEOTAPING DANCE

30 minutes 1979
black & white

A sketchbook of ideas and experiences about the problems, benefits and techniques of videotaping dance. ARC videodance directors Jeff Bush and Celia Ipiotis provide comments and parallel examples illustrating three major dance videotaping methods.

Dance Selections:

  • MOTHERLESS CHILD 3:14
    (three video versions)

THE ART OF DANCING: AN INTRODUCTION TO BAROQUE DANCE
21 minutes 1979
black & white

Based on Kellom Tomlinson’s 1720 dance manual, the award-winning program THE ART OF DANCING, presents the minuet as a witty dance lesson by Mr. Tomlinson. Included is an introduction to the notation system and performance style and technique of the minuet. The period is brought to life with authentic 18th century costumes and music set in the historic 1769 Morris Jumel Mansion in New York City.

Dance Selections:

  • BALLROOM MINUET 2:49
  • MINUET d’OMPHALLE 1:27