About the piece:
If one considers the theater with its proscenium arch as a site for the performance of dance, then one might also consider film/video, with its specific frame size (or aspect ratio, the relationship of width to height) as a sort of architectural space as well. Glass Pocket is a digital dance film that expresses movement motifs for the camera. This dance film explores the relationships between the moving body, time, and spatial rhythms, opening the dynamic yet fragile door between interior and exterior of my home in Honolulu, Hawai’i.
Glass Pocket derives from my senior honors thesis, Enlarging Spaces in Fixed Places: Laterna Magika’s Technological Mediums and Artistic Explorations from Past to Present, submitted to the Department of Dance of Smith College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Glass Pocket was presented at the Smith College Department of Dance 2021 Senior Dance Concert, Progress Log: Ascension. The dance concert would not have been made possible without the gracious direction of Angie Hauser, support of the technical crew, and the Sharonjean Moser Leeds Endowment, a generous fund created by Sharonjean (Smith College ’67) and Richard Leeds for the Smith Department of Dance.
Glass Pocket explores the possibilities of creating an impression of physical space utilizing the camera lens/frame and how it can potentially be enlarged. I wonder if this rendering of expanded space is only made possible through projection work. How can the camera be operated to create a new perception of space? How does one effectively translate desired visuals on film? Finally, as the director of the whole work – choreographer, performer, designer, and editor – what are the guiding principles of this artistic role? Each artistic component is essential to the overall theatrical synthesis of the production.
Credits / Information:
- Title: Glass Pocket
- Choreography, Filming, Editing: Talia Preis
- Performer: Talia Preis
- Music: “Take Five” Dave Brubeck Quartet
- Costume: Talia Preis
Glass Pocket
Acknowledgements:
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dance, art and technology education and especially the Smith Dance Department professors for showing me over the past four years what it means to be dedicated to your artistic process, each in their own unique way. Each of you have graciously shared your time, energy, and expertise and I am richer for it: Angie Hauser, Chris Aiken, Rodger Blum, Lester Tomé, Melinda Buckwalter, and Mike Vargas. And special thanks to my dear parents for allowing me to transform their living space into my creative artistic space for the past year. And to my fellow senior choreographers, even though I was not in-person with you all, thank you for making me feel present and connected every step of the way during our dancemaking journey. I am sure our dancing paths shall cross again.