St. Olaf to host 'digitally infused' dance program Friday
Choreographer and performer Brent Schneider will present his dance/theater/video production, Being Human: Perspectives on Living, to Wagner/Bundgaard Studio One in St. Olaf College's Dittmann Center Friday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. The performance, comprised of several short works woven together through the use of video projections and narrations, is free and open to the public. Performers Tyler Kunz and David Johnson will join Schneider on stage.
In today's visually oriented culture, live performance is often overlooked as a viable means of communication and expression. Schneider tackles the issue by playing with the traditional elements of live performance. Several ideas prompted the creation of this work: How do our own unique personalities grow and flourish, defining us as individuals? How are our perceptions created and shaped by those with whom we come in contact? Schneider examines these ideas through dance and video to present a new perspective on what could be perceived as a normal daily experience.
Schneider draws on his varied background in modern dance, ballet and musical theater, and combines this experience with his interests in video production and digital imaging. His choreography blurs the distinctions between theatre and dance while seamlessly integrating layers of video projections with live performers.
Schneider is an associate professor in the Department of Modern Dance at the University of Utah, where he also serves as associate dean for the College of Fine Arts. As a 10-year member of Utah Repertory Dance Theatre, Schneider has served as dancer, rehearsal director, administrator and trustee. He has performed and choreographed in many dance styles, including ethnic, ballroom, musical theatre, tap, jazz and ballet. He has been a faculty member for Weber State University, American College Dance Festivals, Regional Dance America Choreography Conferences, and has taught and choreographed extensively for dance and theater companies -- recently returning from choreographing for the National University in Costa Rica.
For more information contact the Department of Dance, St. Olaf College, 786-3248.
