(1978) – Phase Tracing, an evening-length work, a collaboration with Ron Kuivila, experimental sound artist.  In the performance, dancer’s movements make inaudible sound audible with movements of the body or movement of silver strips of polyethylene/mylar strips hung from ceiling to floor in the stage space.

(Program note)  “Dancing in a sculptural environment of transparent polyethylene and mylar strips hanging from ceiling to floor.  The audio installation is titled, Comparing Habits by Ron Kuivila.  The work involves sending sound into the space an octave above our hearing (ultrasonic) to create a field.  Within that field movement is translated into audible sound.  A fan moves the mylar and that also creates audibility of the ultrasound sent into the performance space from the wings by Kuivila.  Each dancers body makes distinctive sound even when doing the same movement.  The dancers distance from the origin of the sound also makes a difference in what sound is made audible. Microphones are an important aspect of the installation.”  Ron Kuivila

Premiere: Dance Project. Washington, DC, 18th and Columbia Road, founded by Jan Van Dyke….this important community initiative later became Dance Place in NW, DC/MD.

Note: A phrase of movement originally  created by Brook Andrews for Phase Tracing became the foundation for development into a later “new work” titled, Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Move.

Note: Phase Tracing II continues the collaboration with Ron Kuivila and dancers engagement with audibility and demonstrates MWDCCo early engagement with collaboration and experimentation with technology.

Diane Floyd and Don Zuckerman

Brook Andrews , Don Zuckerman, Diane Floyd, Maida Withers (arch)