KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 15, 2019

The Department of Dance presented Radnocular, an open research forum to generate discussion, share new ideas, and contemplate important issues in dance-making on April 15th. Discussion Presenters included:

Olivia Bryant, "The Other Side." A choreographic presentation and discussion regarding cultural tolerance, fear, and boundary making/breaking. Tolerance is a seemingly charged word but one that holds true the light of indignation. The process of change, illustrated by dancers moving through these interstitial borders, reveals a much broader commentary on social resiliency.  

Mickel Peace, "Change Your World, Change Your Mind." This project examines dance movement therapy and its ability to improve interpersonal relationships with and between seniors who may be living with Alzheimer or dementia. Findings demonstrate that movement creates positive interconnections between mind, body, and soul, creating a better world for the individual.

Jada Thomas, "Strange Fruit(s): An Analysis of the Representation of the Black Body in Dance." Discussion/presentation surrounding the complicated and problematic issues of Travis Wall's SYTYCD 2017 piece “Strange Fruit.” Wall’s choreographic depiction of Abel Meeropol's 1937 poem, made famous by Billie Holiday’s iconic performance, provoked many in the dance community. Discussions will explore approaches to sensitive and informed choreography in the future of dance.

Bailey Harbaugh, "Your Changes Have Been Submitted." Choreographic presentation and commentary regarding the artistic treatment of "The Butterfly Effect." This effect, in chaos or complexity theory, suggests that a small change in one system can have an infinite number of effects on surrounding nonlinear systems. Dancers illustrate the interstitial change as movements migrate from body to body.

Nicole Koontz, “AlReady-Whipped.” A dance film that embodies the old-age female persona of a non-essential decorative being and redefines the femme qualities of purity, sweetness, and fragility through the physical tool of whipped cream. A discussion will focus on the redefinitions of femme qualities and how these characters are either celebrated or ignored by popular culture.