Technology | Misnomer Dance Theater

Archive for the 'Technology' Category

Bjork’s Wanderlust Screening @ Deitch

Published by

at March 10, 2008 in General, Technology, Video, bjork, events and rehearsals. 4 Comments

UPDATE: If you cannot make it on Thursday, there will be a screening on Friday.

This March 13th, Wanderlust (directed by Encyclopedia Pictura), will be screened in 3D at Deitch Studios!

Misnomer choreographed the video and two of our dancers (Coco and Brynne) perform in it alongside with Bjork!

We’re excited to officially announce the release date for Bjork’s music video Wanderlust. Attendance for the viewing is first-come, first-serve, so arrive early.

The choreographic and artistic process on this project was very rewarding, and we’re excited to be sharing this work with you. Once the video is released, check our flickr page for a behind the scenes look.

Nearest metro stops are Court Square. Take a look at the Map below for reference :

View Larger Map

Related Links:
Choreographing Bjork’s Music Video

Shooting in 3D

Join our mailing list and receive updates about this and other great events

SHARE This

A Mighty Thanks…

Published by

Jaki Levy

at January 15, 2008 in IdeaBlob, Technology and rehearsals. 0 Comments

…to all the folks who participated and supported Misnomer’s proposal on IdeaBlob.

We have exciting news for you. We did it! Your incredibly inspiring support helped Misnomer win $10k for the Arts. With this amazing gift, we are planning on building tools to bring artists and audiences (that’s you) closer via the web.

You can read the press release from Advanta, the sponsors of IdeaBlob.

Each month, there is a different winner. This month, Misnomer took the prize. IdeaBlob held a reception in New York City to recognize past winners. During the reception, Ami (IdeaBlob’s Chief Innovation Officer) handed Chris a large check - just like I used to see on TV.

We all took the opportunity to take a picture with the check. Check out the full photoset on our flickr page.

UPDATED: You can now read Deborah Jowitt’s article on Ideablob and Misnomer in the Village Voice

SHARE This

Dance Magazine Interview with Chris Elam

Published by

Jaki Levy

at December 16, 2007 in Dance Magazine, Technology, Video and rehearsals. 0 Comments

Dance Magazine’s December 2007 issue featured an article by Kina Poon called Whirled Wide Web. Kina interviewed Chris Elam, Misnomer’s artistic director, for the feature which focused on how dance companies like Misnomer and others are using the web.

Chris came up with the idea of recording the conversation with Kina so that you could hear some of the thoughts that could not make its way into the article. I took the video of Chris talking on the phone and placed past choreography and experiments on top of the conversation to give the conversation more context. I hope this supplemental material gives you additional insight into Dance Magazine’s great article.

Related Links:
Visit Dance Magazine
Read the Article

SHARE This

Choreographing Bjork’s Music Video

Published by

Chris Elam

at December 10, 2007 in General, Technology and rehearsals. 4 Comments

bjork In addition to the new music video “Declare Independence” directed by Michel Gondry, Bjork has another music video for “Wanderlust” due out in 2008. The video was choreographed by Chris Elam and features Misnomer dancers Brynne Billingsley and Coco Karol. As the music video is released, we will post pictures and videos of the process.

An interesting note - the entire production for Wanderlust was shot in 3D, in a relatively new process. The production also featured a great deal of technology on set. Isaiah, the music video director, explains all the different components:

“There are a number of different elements shot, or created in post [production], that all have to be combined, There is a large-scale, pre-human Yak-puppet, about 7-feet long and 7-feet tall, then there is Björk, then there is a version of Björk that she wears on her backpack played by [Coco Karol] a professional dancer, a large river god/transcendental beast, the landscapes shot in miniature and the CG [computer graphics] river. So each of those elements were manifested in a completely different environment and shot differently. “

For a detailed explanation of the process, read the full article on StudioDaily: http://www.studiodaily.com/main/technique/casestudies/8811.html

Check back here for pictures, videos, and more…Until then, enjoy watching Bjork’s latest video by Michel Gondry, “Declare Independence” [found via Create Digital Motion]

SHARE This

Developing Online Tools for the Arts

Published by

Chris Elam

at December 4, 2007 in General, Technology and rehearsals. 0 Comments

The internet has created new opportunities for artists who continually struggle to find funding. Now, we need help proving that’s true. Misnomer has put together a proposal to build online tools for the dance world. Now, we have a shot at making that a reality, through IdeaBlob (a site to win $ for your ideas). With your vote and this $10k, we’ll be creating exciting ways for people to discover arts online!

In addition to creating work for for Misnomer Dance Theater, we have been working to develop free tools to increase bookings and revenue for performing artists, and create engaging online content for you, our audiences.

I have a background in computer science, and a deep interest in helping the performing arts effectively utilize the web to develop lasting relationships with audiences online. Our initial efforts were featured in Business Week Magazine, so we know we are building something useful. With your help, we can help artists across the board while building the arts community! We’re asking readers to support our idea on IdeaBlob!

What will Misnomer do if we win $10,000 for this idea?

Your vote will help us

1) BUILD web-streaming capabilities for rehearsals enabling audiences to “attend” live rehearsals online and interact directly with artists.

2) CREATE an online theater in which visitors can watch and direct performances from multiple perspectives including back stage views, and performers’ point of view via body mounted cameras.

3) DEVELOP tools to request and display the geography of artist’s online audiences. Venues in new cities can then have ready-made audience bases.

We hope these online tools will help transform artist’s websites into sites of participation.

We anticipate this will create great impact in the arts world!

VOTE FOR US on IdeaBlob (reg req’d)! Or, heck, register your own idea!

“For people who want to be better informed, the Internet itself is the key. For those who want to join the process, the Web is where we merely start.”
-Dan Gillmor, We the Media

SHARE This

Dance Magazine Features Misnomer Dance + Technology

Published by

Chris Elam

at November 17, 2007 in Dance Magazine, General, News, Technology, rehearsals and reviews. 0 Comments

Dance Magazine’s December 2007 issue came out with a huge feature on Dance & Technology which includes a significant interview with Chris Elam.

This article includes a comprehensive review of online initiatives in dance, including the great work of Kristin Sloan and Doug Fox.

You can read the full article as a PDF.

If you have thoughts about the ways that we are using the web, feedback about your experiences with Misnomer online or in the theater, or suggestions for how we can further improve the ways we share our work with you online, please let us know with a comment.

SHARE This

Online Outreach Workshop at The Field

Published by

Jaki Levy

at October 16, 2007 in Technology, The Field and rehearsals. 0 Comments

Chris Elam and I are leading a workshop at The Field called Strategies for Online Outreach. So far, the workshop has been very fulfilling - there have been many good ideas floating around. We’re both very excited about the possibilities that will come out of this workshop.

It’s great to be sharing the possibilities of creating and managing a dynamic website, blog, and social network with others who might be looking to do the same. One of the interesting issues that arose in the workshop is how we utilize our time. Online outreach can easily turn into a full-time job. However, there are many benefits - especially if it’s complementing the focus of your work.

In our case, this work has actually created a new position in Misnomer Dance theater - that of an online coordinator. As we continue to develop our online work, we are looking to develop the roles audiences and performers may share.

We are very much looking forward to the continuing participation and creativity this workshop will bring!

SHARE This

Misnomer in the Business Section of Today’s New York Times

Published by

Jaki Levy

at September 27, 2007 in General, News, Technology, Video and rehearsals. 0 Comments

Marci Alboher wrote an article today in the Business Section of the New York Times in which she featured Misnomer Dance for its’ flexible workspace and online innovations:

Chris Elam’s Misnomer is a big proponent of transparency. His company videotapes rehearsals and even office meetings for posting on its video blog, which allows audiences to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a dance company. “Dance audiences traditionally interact with a dance company for only two hours a year and maybe get a couple of postcards,” Mr. Elam said. “But so much happens outside the performance, and we are trying to find ways of making the whole function of the company more open-source.”

Her article included a photo of Misnomer’s office in the Times:

Using her article as inspiration, we decided to give everyone a tour of Misnomer’ home office with a video we edited which the Times linked on their blog:

The Business Section of the NY Times is a section where dance seldom goes. We are glad to be able to outreach to wide sections of society and hope this turns some new eyes to dance!

SHARE This

Misnomer Unpacked Series, Episode One: Inside the Tinman

Published by

Dorian

at September 26, 2007 in General, Misnomer Unpacked, Technology, Video, Video Clips and rehearsals. 4 Comments

The “Unpacked Series” is our newest video feature. Each episode will give an inside scoop on a piece from Misnomer’s repertory from the perspective of the performers. Hear about what’s going through the dancers’ minds when they are onstage in Chris’ work!

Episode One: “Inside the Tinman”

Choreography: “Tinman” by Chris Elam
Music: Chris Elam and Malina Rausenfels
Interview/ Video Editing: Dorian Nuskind-Oder
Appearing in this Episode: Chris Elam

SHARE This

Summer Stages:: Audience Feedback

Published by

Jaki Levy

at July 19, 2007 in General, Summer Stages, Technology and rehearsals. 0 Comments

On July 12, Misnomer performed Tin Man, Landflat, and Throw People to a very receptive audience. For a full review of the night, follow the link.

After the show, we invited the audience to record their impressions and feedback. To facilitate the process, we set up two macBooks with iSights. Here’s what they had to say:

As part of our Presenter Partnership with Summer Stages, we wanted to provide the audience an opportunity to develop a relationship with the work beyond the theater. We will be responding to these questions among others on the blog.