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"Dances Made to Order" Sends The Dance Enthusiast A Postcard...
(and it's nice to get mail)
September 11, 2012
Niki Cousineau, Gabrielle Revlock and Raphael Xavier were the artists selected by curator d. Sabela Grimes to create five-minute dance films for the Philadelphia edition of Dances Made to Order which premiered on August 19. Audience members are a crucial part of the creative process of this monthly, online film festival. They select the ideas that the artists will be inspired by to create their films. For the Philadelphia edition, the themes chosen were: en route and visible/invisible. In our Postcard, Niki, Gabrielle and Raphael take a moment to talk to us about the process.
What was challenging/interesting about the themes the audience chose for your "Dance Made to Order"?
Niki: The themes were interesting because they both could be interpreted with a multiplicity -- both conceptually and physically.
Gabrielle: In thinking about visible and invisible my team because especially interested in things that were hyper-visible.
Raphael: There weren't any real challenges. It was really about trying to work in the theme from your perspective and make it clear for the audience to get it at the same time. That was/is the most interesting thing.
.jpg) |
| still from "turn out, turn up" by Gabrielle Revlock and collaborators |
Did you immediately know what you were going to do? What were the roads you didn't take?
Niki: I wouldn't say we immediately knew what we wanted to do - but rather we knew where we were going to do it. We were on vacation up in Maine - so knew we had the woods, the ocean and then were incredibly lucky to have access to this beautiful, dilapidated building. We found ourselves out filming in these spots and playing our way into the concepts.
Gabrielle: There was no master plan. It started with brainstorming. Then we shot some material we were interested in. It all came together in the editing. There are definitely one or two more films that could be extracted from the remaining footage.
Raphael: I didn't know what I was immediately going to do. I knew what I wanted to do but the time and resources were not there. Well, as for the road I didn't take...I ended up taking it anyway. I wanted to work with dancers and a camera guy instead of doing it myself. But circumstances beyond my control were factored in. I shot and edited the footage and it didn't work out the way I intended so I was left to scramble and do it by myself...again! I enjoy it, just not in the 12th hr.
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| stills from "Skeleton Skin" by Niki and Jorge Cousineau. |
What are 3 words that describe your work?
Niki: surreal, vulnerable, subtle
Gabrielle: witty, imaginative, vulnerable
Raphael: Guerilla-Bananas-Zany
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| stills from "Skeleton Skin" by Niki and Jorge Cousineau. |
Complete this sentence... in my film work I think it is important to always be.....
Niki: ... intimate.
Gabrielle: ...considering the frame.
Raphael: ...ready to change direction and let it go.
.jpg) |
| still from "turn out, turn up" by Gabrielle Revlock and collaborators |
Complete this sentence.... blank is something you will never see in my work.
Niki: HIgh kicks are something you will never see in my work.
Gabrielle: Oh man. I don't want to promise anything. Let's keep it open. Possibilities are key.
Raphael: Crap...is something you will never see in my work.
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| still from "turn out, turn up" by Gabrielle Revlock and collaborators |
The Philadelphia edition was presented in partnership with Philadelphia Dance Projects.
The films are available for purchase/live streaming on http://dancesmadetoorder.com.
0 includes all three films which you can watch at your convenience anywhere at anytime from your computer or mobile device. The ticket proceeds go back to the artists to support their work.
