School of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies presents "Gravity"

Kay Theater at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Fri, Nov 30, 2012 . 8:00PM
Sat, Dec 1, 2012 . 8:00PM
http://claricesmithcenter.umd.edu/events/2012/mde-breathe-rhythm-flight


If you're interested in something a bit off the beaten track, this Friday
and Saturday at 8 our School of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies
will present "Gravity".  It will be performed this coming weekend as part
of the Maryland Dance Ensemble (for time schedule, tickets and logistics
please check the page
http://claricesmithcenter.umd.__edu/events/2012/mde-breathe-__rhythm-flight ).
"Gravity" will be a relatively short piece in the ensemble (maybe 10-12
minutes), and it is based in part on two and three-body interactions such
as Doug, Derek, and I study; it has grown out of a collaboration with
Adriane Fang  (Dance department) and Umberto Cannella (postdoc in
Physics).  It should be a different take on dynamics :).

A more detailed description is below.


=========================================

Gravity


Choreography: Adriane Fang

Costume Design: Kate Fulop

Projection Design: Andrew Kaufman

Lighting Design: Paul D. Jackson

Performers: Star Cluster: Jennifer Alcott, Chelsea Brown, Christina Camacho,
Ellen Clark, Kayla Coutts, Katie Gundlach, Rachel Mucha, Nicole Turchi

Gravity Trio: Robin Neveu-Brown, Erin Crawley-Woods, Jessie
Laurita-Spanglet, Nicole Y. McClam, Megan Morse-Jans, Lynne Price


This work was created in collaboration with Professor Cole Miller of the
Astronomy Department and Doctor Umberto Cannella of the Physics Department.
  Special thanks to Laurie Frederik Meer and James Forsberg for their
valuable input.

Our solar system is in a sparsely populated part of our galaxy and thus,
fortunately for us, encounters with stars are rare and distant.  However
other regions in the Universe, like the center of our galaxy, are more
crowded: they are packed with stars that either orbit each other or a
central massive black hole.  In the vicinity of heavy objects in fast
motion, space and time do not behave in the way we are familiar with;
rather, they exhibit collective dynamics such that the fabric of space-time
stretches, twists, torques and even vibrates like the membrane of a drum,
giving off the "sounds" of the universe in the form of gravitational waves.

Around these subjects of cutting edge research a dialogue has been
established between the enthusiastic scientists and the curious inspired
community of artists.
Further information about the above seminars can be obtained at http://umdphysics.umd.edu/events/calendar.html or by sending email to phys-chair@physics.umd.edu