THE BACKSTORY...
In 2005, then novice photographer Chris Engles was looking for interesting subject matter to focus on. He found it in the Boston based modern dance company Weber Dance. That relationship stuck, and over the course of several years he became the de facto photographer/videographer for the company. In 2012 he accompanied Weber Dance on what was their 6th residency at Juneau Dance Theatre in as many years. Initially, the idea was to simply continue to document the work of the company, but once in the environs of Alaska, Chris was inspired to do more than just take a few pictures, and thus the idea for a documentary was born.
Over the next 4 years, Chris was a fly on the wall for numerous rehearsals, performances, and logged more Alaska Air miles than he ever expected to. The end result is an engaging, visually enticing film that serves as an introductory exploration to an elusive art form.
In 2005, then novice photographer Chris Engles was looking for interesting subject matter to focus on. He found it in the Boston based modern dance company Weber Dance. That relationship stuck, and over the course of several years he became the de facto photographer/videographer for the company. In 2012 he accompanied Weber Dance on what was their 6th residency at Juneau Dance Theatre in as many years. Initially, the idea was to simply continue to document the work of the company, but once in the environs of Alaska, Chris was inspired to do more than just take a few pictures, and thus the idea for a documentary was born.
Over the next 4 years, Chris was a fly on the wall for numerous rehearsals, performances, and logged more Alaska Air miles than he ever expected to. The end result is an engaging, visually enticing film that serves as an introductory exploration to an elusive art form.
THE DANCE COMPANY
Mission Statement
Weber Dance is a contemporary concert dance company that enriches, inspires and educates audiences. We are committed to engaging the public in the expressive power of movement through programs that enable our audiences to develop a deeper of awareness of the language of human movement, the history of American dance, and the transformative power of live performance.
Vision
Weber Dance integrates high quality concert dance, community access to art, and clean energy. Through the Dance Core Project we will create an opportunity to offer communities a highly innovative format for viewing dance by developing a residency project that can literally go anywhere. Weber Dance will offer performances in both conventional and non- conventional spaces accommodating a deeply varied audience. The organization is deeply committed to creating work that generates conversation and interaction between the professional dancers and the audience, bringing classes in dance appreciation and history to all Americans, and offering classes that engage the novice dancer and challenge the professional. All of our work includes discussion of the artist’s inspiration and process, and provides the audience with the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the artists after the performance. Weber Dance will help our audiences and students re-establish a deep connection with their own bodies, forge awareness of the incredible nuance and expression available through movement, and revitalize their experience with the art of dance.
Mission Statement
Weber Dance is a contemporary concert dance company that enriches, inspires and educates audiences. We are committed to engaging the public in the expressive power of movement through programs that enable our audiences to develop a deeper of awareness of the language of human movement, the history of American dance, and the transformative power of live performance.
Vision
Weber Dance integrates high quality concert dance, community access to art, and clean energy. Through the Dance Core Project we will create an opportunity to offer communities a highly innovative format for viewing dance by developing a residency project that can literally go anywhere. Weber Dance will offer performances in both conventional and non- conventional spaces accommodating a deeply varied audience. The organization is deeply committed to creating work that generates conversation and interaction between the professional dancers and the audience, bringing classes in dance appreciation and history to all Americans, and offering classes that engage the novice dancer and challenge the professional. All of our work includes discussion of the artist’s inspiration and process, and provides the audience with the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the artists after the performance. Weber Dance will help our audiences and students re-establish a deep connection with their own bodies, forge awareness of the incredible nuance and expression available through movement, and revitalize their experience with the art of dance.
THE FILMMAKER
Chris spent over a decade in public broadcasting as a technical director for such programs as NPR’s Cartalk, PRI’s The World and NPR’s Living on Earth. In the mid 1990’s he transitioned to narrative and documentary film work. His first feature length effort, This Town, premiered at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 2002 and was an official selection of the New York International Independent Film Festival. Since then Chris has gone on to make several short form video profiles of such noted artists as painters John Murray and Sean Flood, as well as his talented neighbors at the Brickbottom Artist Community in Somerville MA.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
I'm driven by two forces. Process, and illustration. I enjoy getting my hands dirty and working my way through a creative endeavor, be it sound, visual art or spoken word. Through executing a process I learn not only about the world, but about myself. What draws me to a particular process? Invariably, a moving experience through someone else's art; an inspiring piece of music, a captivating film, a sublime written passage. Within each of these experiences, I feel there is "truth", or some aspect of truth that deserves attention by a wider audience. Hence a lifetime spent in audio production(sound and storytelling), still photography (attempting to capture the "in-between" moments in life), and documentary film work. After producing a series of shorter video portraits of various artist in the greater Boston area, I embarked on my current project, Finding Heaven Under Our Feet: Making Modern Dance, which has been a great vehicle to engage all of my creative interests at once.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
I'm driven by two forces. Process, and illustration. I enjoy getting my hands dirty and working my way through a creative endeavor, be it sound, visual art or spoken word. Through executing a process I learn not only about the world, but about myself. What draws me to a particular process? Invariably, a moving experience through someone else's art; an inspiring piece of music, a captivating film, a sublime written passage. Within each of these experiences, I feel there is "truth", or some aspect of truth that deserves attention by a wider audience. Hence a lifetime spent in audio production(sound and storytelling), still photography (attempting to capture the "in-between" moments in life), and documentary film work. After producing a series of shorter video portraits of various artist in the greater Boston area, I embarked on my current project, Finding Heaven Under Our Feet: Making Modern Dance, which has been a great vehicle to engage all of my creative interests at once.
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Dance
Erin Gottwald
Becca Rozell
Becca was born and raised in Juneau Alaska. She started dancing at 3 with local studios and always dreamed of being a dancer in NYC. Her dreams came true! She danced there after college and then came to Boston where she danced with Weber Dance and she had no idea what an amazing relationship that would become. She had always loved coming home to teach classes and summer camps, which gave her the opportunity to be back in her gorgeous home town. The more she was away, the more she appreciated the unique and breath taking beauty of it. She never anticipated the incredible gift Jody Weber would give her. Jody inquired about bringing the Weber dancers up and doing a workshop and performing. Being able to connect Weber dance with JDU was the best job ever. Coming home to visit home, teaching to local dancers and performing was incredible. Especially when she moved to SF. Although she loves her current home, teaching for Roco Dance, an artist with Performing Arts works and dancing for Dance Ceres, the opportunity to come back together with Weber Dance in Juneau was really her dream come true. And proud she can share the gift and give back to her community. Illustrations
Rori! is a designer and illustrator from St. Louis. She is the author of several comics, including the magical-autobiographical Tiny Pink Robots, and is the creator of the women's history illustration series #100Days100Women. She has been involved with a number of organizations focused on supporting and spotlighting women in the arts, and she is the founder of the comics-centered group Madames des Comiques. Today, she is developing a series of projects centered around adventurous and influential women in both fiction and history. You can find more of her work at tumblr.com/roricomics twitter.com/roricomics and facebook.com/ILikeRori |
Soundtrack
Ryan Edwards Ryan Edwards is a career musician for dancers. From a beginning in big band jazz, to an extensive study in West African music and dance, he has been on the path to make people dance since he began in music. For 10 years he led annual adventure-travel missions to Guinea, West Africa (when he had hair). Currently producing interdisciplinary art and performance work, he continues to explore music, installations and design for dance as well as various site-specific works. He is the co-founder and drummer for Boston-based afrobeat band Federator N°1. Ryan is a New Music America Grant Recipient and travels extensively to perform and compose music for dance. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in performance from Berklee College of Music and a minor in Africana Studies. Ryan is most proud to be a father of two beautiful children, Jafiah and Maya. www.ryanedwards.info Percussionist & Composer MASARY Studios The Loading Docktors Some of the talented Brickbottom neighbors Chris mentioned, The Loading Docktors (yes, that's the correct spelling) is comprised of Bill Bennett on Guitar, Steve Tayor on bass, and Tracy Kroll on drums. We had the luxury of recording their soundtrack contribution at Tracy's home studio The Sound Retreat in Chester Connecticut. Jason Jordan Chris first worked with Jason many moons ago on a Boston 48Hr Film Festival, where Chris was immediately impressed with Jason's talents, and thought to himself: "I better keep this guy in my back pocket - I'm gonna need him some day." Jason scored original music for "Walk in the Woods", "Timer", and finale dance sequences. http://www.jordanfilmmusic.com Vox Equalis More talented Brickbottom neighbors (sensing a theme?). Vox Equalis includes multimedia artist Pauline Lim, who held a rehearsal for the group in the Brickbottom gallery on evening. Chris was passing through the lobby, heard their amazing voices and the rest was history. |