Individual Artist Project

I have spent the 23/24 season both dancing with the Minnesota Ballet, and creating short promotional videos for the company. The feedback on these videos has been overwhelmingly supportive, to the point that people have specifically asked about when the next one would be posted. Though those videos were made in support of a live performance, they are still a sampling of my style of filmmaking. The interest in them leads me to believe that there is an audience for dance films in Duluth. In my time living here, I have not seen an event like the one I am proposing, and I want to be the one to fill this need and provide a new experience to audiences in this area. Additionally, dance film is an accessible point of entry into the appreciation and support of dance in the community. Dance film has the capacity to give viewers an entirely different perspective for understanding dance because the camera can achieve angles and distances that audiences in traditional theater spaces cannot. This intimate connection between viewers and the dancing can unlock an entirely new understanding for them of dance as an art form. Overall, I aim for the lasting benefit of a new communal understanding of the capabilities of both dance and film, and to bridge the gap between two communities that I have recognized in Duluth, dance-lovers and film-buffs. Bringing them together for a night of interdisciplinary art and conversation will inspire new connections between these two groups.; I aim to inspire empathy in the audience for Eurydice and spark dialogue surrounding the content of the film and the way I portrayed it. The Q and A should facilitate conversations that continue beyond the day of the event. Measurable outcomes include the completion of the final film, its subsequent screening for the public, and its acceptance into various dance film festivals. Overall, I want to bring dance film to public attention in the Duluth area, and to spark some artistic and intellectual discussion that may inspire others to explore similar multidisciplinary pursuits. My film, "Shadows in the Shape of Swan Lake," was 10+ minutes long and was filmed in about 18 hours over 2 weeks. This film is planned to be shorter than that, will have a much smaller cast, and will shoot in fewer locations. From that project, I gained a better understanding for how to shoot outside, especially when I can't control the lighting. I've learned how to make the most of the natural lighting I have, and how to plan an outdoor shoot to accommodate for dancer safety and comfort. Previous successes in event planning include planning two dance performance showcases at the Texas Christian University School for Classical and Contemporary Dance. My team and I budgeted for programs, promotional materials, and hosting costs along with general operating costs. I, myself, designed promotional flyers and digital ads, as well as trailers for the dances themselves. I learned about how to best set up a timeline to plan the event, and how to work under pressure if issues pop up.; I know I will have succeeded if even one person comes up to me during the screening and makes a comment similar to "I never realized dance could be like that." That said, attendance will also be a quantifiable measure of success. I hope to have upwards of 40 people attend this event. Additionally, the film's ranking at the film festivals I will submit it to will contribute to its measure of success. I will qualify that by saying that the networking opportunities provided by these festivals will be valuable regardless of my film's ranking, but any awards will certainly ensure my feelings of success in this project. Though this is difficult to measure considering the subjectivity of art, I will consider the film's completion a success if I feel pride in the way it matches or exceeds the quality of my previous work.