Upcoming Work: Innovation of Affection
As I disembarked a ferry, I witnessed a father and son embrace. It is rare to see male affection in America. This instance was genuine, open father and son love. Maybe I was drawn to it because I miss my now late father. But it struck me as “innovative”. I believe the world would progress and be a better place if this was more common. I said to myself ‘Innovation of Affection” and the work was born.
"Like a relationship, Innovation of Affection has been a journey to me with unexpected twists and turns, but it started the way it should, with a heart felt embrace."
I also knew at that time that I would be drawn to other themes in the company of my dancers. I started on a path of expressing romantic love, affection, how well suited dance is to making this statement. I gave their affection residence in a variety of relationships.
Innovation took a turn when I was in a super market explaining to a stranger / acquaintance my new work. She said, “ Oh, Innovation of Affection, like couples flirting through text and on Facebook.”
I said “Yes, exactly, right. That is what I meant?!” And I started the theme of technology as innovation. To myself, I added that many couples meet via online dating sites. In explaining all this to my technical director, Kevin Harkins, he said, “The audience could text comments on the dancers live. I could hook up your iPhone to a projector. I then went in my back yard and constructed a giant 8-foot phone. While I was at it I found what looked like a stop light. The relationships I had created, some would approach with caution, others not at all and others it would be a GO! Et viola, a traffic light appears.
So you see the process was truly a relationship with many people, dating you could say. Don’t worry this won’t spoil the dance for you. That is what it is about dance – words are just words but dance is touch, embrace… affection.
Innovation took a turn when I was in a super market explaining to a stranger / acquaintance my new work. She said, “ Oh, Innovation of Affection, like couples flirting through text and on Facebook.”
I said “Yes, exactly, right. That is what I meant?!” And I started the theme of technology as innovation. To myself, I added that many couples meet via online dating sites. In explaining all this to my technical director, Kevin Harkins, he said, “The audience could text comments on the dancers live. I could hook up your iPhone to a projector. I then went in my back yard and constructed a giant 8-foot phone. While I was at it I found what looked like a stop light. The relationships I had created, some would approach with caution, others not at all and others it would be a GO! Et viola, a traffic light appears.
So you see the process was truly a relationship with many people, dating you could say. Don’t worry this won’t spoil the dance for you. That is what it is about dance – words are just words but dance is touch, embrace… affection.
