The (Re)sounding Bodies symposium aims to unsettle the idea that
intercultural performance is ‘resolved’ by knowing about cultural
and discursive concepts such as history and society alone,
and to introduce the idea that intercultural performance has to
also consider the embodied and somatic particularities of
performativity.
Our broader focus is on the performative elements in theatre,
dance, music, and performance generally that cluster around the
use of breath, movement, rhythm, sound, gesture, speech, and
spatial and temporal relations. In this, as a Theatre and Dance
department committed to the study of performativity, we are
responding to the lack of focus on these elements in
intercultural research, and hoping to open discussion in the
context of specific performances that will contribute more widely
as to the importance of these elements for understanding and
communication.
The symposium is built around three performances:
“Sounding
Bodies:” The Assembly Dance Theatre of Taiwan and David
Grenke’s work with them and with students from Theatre and
Dance on a piece created by Grenke and Jon D. Rossini, “Low
Flying Planes” (May 11-13, Main Theatre)
“Body electric 1.2″
Gretchen Jude and Peiling Kao (electroViolet) (May 18, Della
Davidson Performance Studio)
“Elements” Peter Lichtenfels
directs professional and semiprofessional actors and
dancers from the Department of Theatre and Dance BA, MFA and
PhD programs, in production of Shogo Ohta’s
play(May 18-20, Arena Theatre)
The symposium itself is made up of keynote papers from leading
scholars in Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese performance modes,
and of workshops by practitioners working on intercultural
performance modes.
Registration includes meals, receptions, and performances.
Ph.D. Duke University, 1999B.A. University of Cincinnati, Phi Beta KappaPerformance Studies
Jon D. Rossini is Associate Professor in the Department of
Theatre and Dance at UC Davis where he teaches courses in Theatre
and Dance History, Ethnicity/Race in Performance, Performance
Writing, Playwriting, and Theories of Performance.