Web Page: maidadance.com/works/data-to-dance-dance-of-the-auroras/

(2009) Data to Dance: (Film) Dance of the Auroras – Fire in the Sky –  a documentary film by Maida Withers, Producer, Writer, Director, and Narrator with Nikodimos Fikru, Editor, based on research and many gifts received, to tell the amazing story of how  Dance of Aurora  – Fire in the Sky could be, and was, created by Maida Withers and the Dance Construction Company, Washington, DC.  Data to Dance traces aspects of the research and development of the project through interviews, discoveries, rehearsals, and performances. How to tell the magical story through dance, music, science, and theory?

Research features visits and intense study with scientists and institutions in Finland, Norway, Russia, and the USA (Alaska and NASA). Movies and images of the Sun and the Earth’s auroras were gathered from around the world from individuals and institutions, some from images from orbiting spacecraft and special ground-based cameras generously shared by the US Government. Descriptions by NASA’s Nicola Fox with the combination of art and science – becomes powerful and magical. Delicate, astonishing original music was performed live for Dance of the Auroras stage work by the Global House Band, Norway. Dancers from Russia, Poland, USA, using the wireless mouse (new technology at the time), on stage during live performance,  altered and manipulate auroral images projected, moved,  on the stage backdrop, in real time. Astonishing large-scale projected cyber worlds created by Tania Fraga, Brazil, projected on stage for various sections of Dance of the Auroras. The combination of art and science is an astonishing spectacular display of beauty, and power of the human/dancer engaged with the amazing cyber images coupled with the shocking history and wonder and science of the auroras.

Data to Dance was conceived by Maida Withers, commissioned by Research Channel, Seattle, Washington and, finally,  premiered/broadcast on Research Channel, Seattle, Washington, DC, January 30, 2009. Research Channel was carried on channel 9400 of the Dish Network as well as cable television channels in select American markets. It also aired over-the-air on several terrestrial television stations: KAMU-TV (College Station, Texas), KWSU-TV (Pullman, Washington), KYES-TV (Anchorage, Alaska), KUJH-LP (Lawrence, Kansas), and WPSU-TV (State College, Pennsylvania).

Selected for showing:
Research Channel, Seattle, Washington
III Sao Carlos Video Dance Festival, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Shown in the lobby during each Dance of the Auroras live performance

The list of credits for Data to Dance, is extensive and comprehensive. Please view the listing at the end of the film, Data to Dance. We extend our heartful thanks and deep gratitude to the many people and institutions that made Data to Dance possible.

Recorded Sound and Music (See film credits):
Ikon Ghost, Guy Yarden; Minne, Sanna Kurki-Sonio, Northern Nights, NorthSide Records. Auroral Audio: NASA, Donald Gurnett, University of Iowa, and Stephen McGreevy

Animation, Photographs and Images: (See film credits)
NASA/Goddard Space flight Center, Scientific Visualization Studio, Images Courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center: ESA, LMSAL, ISAS, and NOAA, Jan Curtis, Dick Hutchinson, Scott Anderson, Esa Turinen, Sodankyla Observatory, Trond Trondson, University of Calgary, Canada – Portable Auroral Imager, Poul Jensen and Dirk Lummerzheim, University of Alaska, R.H. Eather.

Documentary Footage – Live Performance:
Nordlys Festivalen, Tromso, Norway
Lisner Auditorium, Washington, DC
Dukabristov Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia
Dance Place, Washington, DC

Original Production, Dance of Auroras, Produced by Maida Withers and the Dance Construction Company

Science specialists generously assisting with information for Dance of Auroras Stage Production: Paal Brekke, Tom Moore, Nicola Fox, David Palmer (NASA); Dirk Lummerzheim, University of Alaska; Vladmir Bulatov and Holger Grahnn, computer scientists, and others.

Film funded by research Channel, The George Washington University, Maida Withers Dance Construction Company. Produced in the facilities of The George Washington University.

Copyright 2009, Maida Withers
All rights reserved

Dance of the Auroras – Fire in the Sky, live performance toured to Arkhangelsk and St. Petersburg, Russia in 2003.
Web Page: maidadance.com/works/data-to-dance-dance-of-the-auroras/

Showing:
Research Channel, Seattle, Washington
III Sao Carlos Video Dance Festival, Sao Carlos, Brazil
Also shown in the lobby during each performance
Other…

Documentary Footage – Performances:
Nordly’s Festivalen – Tromso, Norway, January 2001
Lisner Auditorium – Washington, DC, USA, February 2001
Dukabristov Theatre – St. Petersburg & Arkhangelsk, Russia, May 2000
Dance Place – Washington, DC, USA, September 2000 TBD
On Location in Finland, Norway, Russia, and Alaska, USA 2000 TBD