PIECE DESCRIPTION:


"MiDi"

Choreography/concept/costumes/visual art/set: Karola Luttringhaus

Dance: Andrea Lieske, Karola Luttringhaus, Catherine Lewan
Electronic engineering/design, computer programming, music: Andy Turner
Additional recorded music by: Rhan Small, Mark Wienand, Jeff Schmitt, Cat Matlock, Kayla Matlock
Lighting design: Jonathan Christman/Karola Luttringhaus

MIDI stands for "musical instrument digital interface". It is a language with which musical instruments can communicate with each other, or other devices such as a computer.
"MiDi" uses a Movement to MIDI Converter (MTMC) that was designed by Andy Turner in collaboration with the company : A laser & photocell switch grid is set up on stage. The laser beams are cut by the dancers as choreographed. The MTMC is much like an instrument: played by moving through it's laser beams.Therefore the music for "MiDi" is created live on stage by the dancers. Specific sounds and sound combinations are triggered by breaking specific beam combinations, allowing a choreographer to create a musical piece.

"MiDi" is a dual title for this piece as it deals with communication on a variety of levels.
Often reflecting on the life of an artist, "MiDi" is an emotionally charged dance piece about communication, relationships and achievement.
Through their dedication, obsession and an intense desire to reach a goal, the charcters in the piece manoeuver themselves into a corner and no room for growth remains.
This is when self-humour and 'backing off', 'letting go' of the fear to "never make it" is the only way out. They manage to keep going, continue their dream in a positive way, but yet their lives remain in a frenzy of artistic and emotional turmoil.

"MiDi" deals with layers of protection and the shedding of unnecessary burdens and
equally with the acceptance of certain layers and burdens to remain and be a part of you.

"MiDi" is a very physical dance piece. The dancers constantly pushing their boundaries, lifting each other in complicated and intertwined sequences.

Ms. Luttringhaus masters the challenge of combining art and technology without loosing
artistic or expressive integrity or focusing solely on the mechanics behind a
technological device. Dance and technology intertwine to create a new well balanced unit.

Copyright: alban elved dance company & Karola Lüttringhaus

Supported by: a grant from the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County and the North Carolina Arts Council, Robert Andrew Turner, mad duck production Graphic Design, Mojo Musical Supply, Karola Luttringhaus.