Artspark: community engagement in the visual and performing arts

Abstract

Dance and architecture are two creative disciplines that share a special connection. These disciplines have a major overarching intent, the creative exploration of space. Dance can be defined as the movement of bodies through space over time, and architecture is an experience one has through a space over time. The theater is treated as a central and indispensable entity to dancers of all genres; yet its allure extends beyond dance to the entire spectrum of performing arts. Despite this theatrical connection, musical, visual and other arts are quite disparate, and therefore, should not be expected to utilize space in the same way. By applying spatial concepts, through the dancer's eyes, I address the creative process of design through the exchange of ideas from the two artistic specialties, dance and architecture. More specifically, I further explored appropriate and flexible spaces for the dance performance theater in the framework of a creative architectural solution. This was accomplished by communicating with a variety of dance companies, each with a unique use of the common theater space. In fact, the exchange of ideas from these two artistic specialties has become more common, as dance shifts from the "traditional" proscenium stage, to more versatile settings such as museums, outdoor venues, atrium spaces. The goal is to explore the common theater space and create an architectural solution that creates appropriate and flexible space for the dance performance theater that simultaneously expands the audiences ideas regarding performance spaces, informs the audience about dance and allows dance to become more of an intimate, adaptable and interactive viewing experience.