Phosphene Variations
by Jason Akira Somma
September 12-November 17, 2012
Opening Reception Wednesday Sept 12, 6-9pm
Performances, 7pm
Opening night and weekly performances through November 15
Performance curator: Luke Miller

“Phosphene Variations” will premiere at Location One September 12th, featuring a holographic participation by Jiří Kylián, live and holographic performances by Frances Wessells, and Leslie Kraus, and an introductory context statement by Kate Valk of the Wooster Group. The exhibition will also include weekly performances by dance legends, as well as up-and-coming artists, throughout the duration of the exhibition. Somma will “perform” with the artists using his revolutionary video techniques, exploring the undiscovered edge between visual and performance art, as it uses performance as the well-spring for independent visual content.

Wednesday, Sept 12th
Frances Wessel
Leslie Krauss
Christopher Lancaster

Frances Wessells has worked with dance legends including Erik Hawkins, Hanya Holm and Martha Graham. She has performed all over the globe. Frances started the Dance program at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1981 and, through teaching there for 25 years, has profoundly influenced the lives of several generations of dancers. She is grateful that late in life people are still interested in watching her dance and in learning the art and theory of dance from her. Her passion has never waned, nor has her will to push the boundaries of dance, teach life through dance and to move in beautiful ways.

Frances will be creating an improvised solo specifically designed to interact with Jason Somma’s video feedback and Chris Lancaster’s sound score for electric cello.

Leslie Kraus graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Dance and Choreography in 2003, and subsequently danced with Curt Haworth and Robbinschilds as well as in her own work in New York. Leslie joined Kate Weare Company in 2006. In 2009, she was recognized for outstanding dancing in Dance Magazine’s annual list of “Top 25 Dancers to Watch.” Leslie routinely acts as Weare’s assistant director, most recently for a commissioned work on dance students at the NYU Tisch School. She is a featured soloist in an opera Weare is working on with composer Barbara White to premiere at Princeton University in March 2012. In 2009, critic Deborah Jowitt of The Village Voice wrote: “(Leslie) Kraus is amazing – demon and angel.”

Christopher Lancaster is an electro-acoustic cellist composer living in Brooklyn, New York. He trained as a classical cellist, but endeavors to expand the ideas of what a cello can be, and what sounds it can create. His solo compositions are performed live using a wide array of effects, samplers and speaker sculptures to create encompassing, cinematic and otherworldly sounds.

Wednesday, Sept 19th
Kira Rae Blazek
Burr Johnson

Kira Rae Blazek grew up in Houston Texas, and was classically trained at Houston Ballet Academy, she received her BFA in Modern Dance Performance from the University of Oklahoma.  Blazek then moved to Chicago where she joined Hubbard Street 2 and toured extensively in the U.S. and Germany.  In 2008, Blazek moved to New York and was immediately picked up by Douglas Dunn & Dancers.  She has also danced for Bill Young, Nicole Wolcott, Christopher Williams, Jack Ferver, Ryan McNamara, Sally Silvers, and Pilobolus Creative Services. In 2009, she was invited to guest with Anoukvandijkdc (Netherlands). In June 2012, she became one of four Americans  certified to teach Countertechnique, a contemporary dance technique developed by Anouk van Dijk.  As a choreographer, Blazek has presented works at Galapagos Arts Space for the 60×60 Festival, Dixon Place, and Danspace St.Mark’s Church. She also delights in music videos and has appeared as a soloist in music videos for Mac Miller and Beach House. She is currently a performer for Shen Wei Dance Arts.

Kira will be creating an improvised solo specifically designed to interact with Jason Somma’s video feedback and Chris Lancaster’s sound score for electric cello.

Burr Johnson is from Virginia Beach, VA. He holds a B.F.A in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. He dances in the works of a few choreographers including Helen Simoneau, Christopher Williams, Shen Wei, and John Jasperse. He has also worked with artists Yozmit, Ryan McNamara, and Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay. His dances havebeen presented at art6 Gallery, Judson Church, Dixon Place, OneArmRed, Elizabeth Dee Gallery, Josée Bienvenu Gallery, and Danspace Project.Burr also teaches dance from time to time and gardens.

Burr will be sharing phrase material and improvisational ideas to be used in his next piece. This will be solo research for a sextet that he will not perform. burrjohnson.wordpress.com

Christopher Lancaster is an electro-acoustic cellist composer living in Brooklyn, New York. He trained as a classical cellist, but endeavors to expand the ideas of what a cello can be, and what sounds it can create. His solo compositions are performed live using a wide array of effects, samplers and speaker sculptures to create encompassing, cinematic and otherworldly sounds.

Wednesday, Sept 26th
Flexers

Wednesday, Oct 10th
Dirty Martini
Julie Atlas Muz
Monstah Black

Miss Dirty Martini
Miss Exotic World 2004, The International Burlesque Sensation, Miss Dirty Martini, is one of the most recognized names in new burlesque. Miss Martini has delighted audiences with her Fan Dance, Balloon Striptease, Dance of the Several Veils, Shadow Strip and other classic burlesque revivals. She has won the Sally Rand Award for her performance at the Exotic World Museum in CA.

Dirty will be performing some of her favorite acts.

Julie Atlas Muz, one of the most acclaimed and prolific conceptual performers and choreographers in New York, sucker punches the boundaries between performance art, dance and burlesque with dark, twisted, come-hither performances that have secured her place in the underworld of nightlife as well as the bastion of the art world. On any given night in New York City, you can see Julie Atlas Muz peeling off the outlandish costumes she dons, covered in fake blood in the basement of a gay bar or co-hosting America’s Favorite Burlesque Gameshow This or That! on public access–in essence, expressing her bawdy, irreverent and unexpected sense of humor.  Muz has presented her work at P.S. 122, HERE, The Performing Garage and Art at St. Anne’s Warehouse, chashama, LaMama, The Kitchen, and Dixon Place.  Late at night you can see Julie Atlas Muz perform regularly in New York at the all the right locations.  Muz has been awarded Artist- in-Residency status from Chashama (2002), Joyce Soho (2001), Mondo Conne Artist-in-Residency at Dixon Place (2000) and Movement Research Artist-in-Residence (1998-99). 2004 Whitney Biennial Artist and a 2005 Valencia Bienal Artist.

Julie will be performing some of her favorite Burlesque acts.

Monstah Black, a new York based artist (singer, songwriter, musician and choreographer),  known for his stage performances that blur the lines of genre and gender. Born and raised in historical Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, Monstah was exposed at birth to not only the pulpit rocking sounds of the southern Baptist Church and the classical sounds of Roman Catholic Church but also Soul, R&B, Rock, Funk and Disco. His aesthetic reflects this upbringing revealing influences of Prince, David Bowie, and Sylvester. Monstah holds an M.F.A in New Media Art and Performance from Long Island University and is currently an artist in residence at Dance New Amsterdam.

Monstah Black will be improvising live with movement and singing a selection from his show Submerged In Blue of 2010.