Dance In Motion Festival, Wiltshire Dance

Dates: 15-16 February 2008

Abstract:

‘Unfairground Ride’ in the ‘The Arc’s’ exhibition space demanded a different approach from previous installations, and required manipulation of the work itself. I selected two sequences that had been screened just once prior to this exhibition, and projected back to back on a single screen in the foyer. ‘Mad Dog’ and ‘Maggi’s sequence’ were projected adjacent to a live, suspended ‘ballcam’ linked to a projection, enabling the audience to participate and experiment with their own imagery, related to the films they were or were about to watch. Additionally, using a collection of old monitors of various sizes, I constructed a wall of work, exhibiting all eleven films together. This project was supported by Wiltshire Dance and hosted at The Arc, Trowbridge.

The Unfairground Ride films were directed by Lizzie Sykes and performed by Tiago Gambogi and Maggi Swallow of FAB: The Detonators in a project supported by Arts Council England (National Touring Bid and a research development grant). Unfairground Ride is a collection of short ‘visual explosions’, using a spherical camera designed and patented by Lizzie Sykes. It’s a wide angle, wireless camera held by the dancer, intended to directly question ideas around traditional roles of director and performer. The result is intimate, absurd and refers to early cinema and mime. There are no edits, this is a performative sequence. The devising process demanded an innovative, collaborative, approach between the vocabulary and experience of a filmmaker and that of a dancer/choreographer. Together we created new movements and sequences for the ‘ballcam’, designed specifically for the Unfairground Ride project.

To watch a selection of ‘Unfairground Ride’ films go to vimeo.com/lizziesykes To view stills of the work visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizziesykes/sets/72157618830247751/

Source: Manual

Preferred by: Lizzie Sykes