Elemental Body
At the beginning of 2023 I received an Emerging Artist grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) to create an entirely new dance film. This is the second time I’ve received this grant, the first time was in 2017, and I wanted to do something a little different. Six years ago I created a group dance film series that challenged me to hone my creation and editing skills. This time around, my proposal to SEMAC was to create another site-specific dance film that would push me further and feature myself as an artist. I’ve primarily made short, improvised dance films of myself; creating them in the moment when I felt inspired by a space. With this film I wanted to make something longer and more thought out and planned.
This film is inspired by my reconnection to the elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Mineral, Nature as described by Dagara cosmology) through the study of West African spiritual practices.
A lovely write-up about my experience making this film can be found here:
Elemental Body: A Dance Film Journey - Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (semac.org)
Photos by Dahli Durley
The process
After receiving the grant, I reached out to a musician and a videographer. Both are MN based artists - Joni Griffith and Bradey Swanson respectfully. I had already secured the Rochester Art Center as the location for my capstone showing event and Winona, MN based artist Sharon Mansur as my mentor for the project so I was able to dive in right away.
The process has been a bit bumpy at times. I’m someone who loves to have a good chunk of time to work on something as opposed to working on it in bits and pieces. The first step for me after connecting with artists was a combined step of finding locations and choreographing movement.
I already had an idea of what kind of world I wanted to create with this film based on the theme of the title itself “Elemental Body”. I wanted to touch on the visceral feeling of connecting my body to the elements. Remembering/reminding/re-knowing that I am comprised of these external elements I’m reconnecting with. When I create my short dance film explorations they are improvisational and not pre-meditated. They have been created on many a hike or walk or passing by a space that looked interesting. This film is that and more. I went on walks and explored a space I thought might work for filming - Quarry Hill Park in Rochester, MN. I wanted to find spaces that represented the five elements I was working with and Quarry Hill Park proved to have enough varied pockets of landscape to fit the bill.
Even after finding the spots I wanted to film, I still questioned it. I worried about the weather and if the foliage would be completely gone by the time I was able to film in October. I wasn’t really sure what direction to go in with the music/sound score, but made a few requests of Joni and she created three distinct sections of music for me to work with while filming. Bradey and I filmed for a day and a half and things went so much better than I could have hoped. The weather was a bit chilly but it wasn’t rainy and the sun even came out at times.
Once we filmed I was able to start editing and got a better idea of how the clips fit together and what was needed from the overall sound score. Both Joni and Bradey made the process easy and fun and are talented artists in their own rights. It’s been great to work with artists I haven’t worked with that are also Minnesota based.
The film premiered at the Rochester Art Center on Saturday January 27th, 2024 and will be shown again as part of the Driftless Dance Film Tour starting September 2024.
Collaborating Artists
Joni Griffith - music composition
Joni Griffith (she/her) is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and movement artist currently residing in Minneapolis, MN. She has toured for six seasons with theater company Mixed Precipitation, bringing joyful outdoor opera everywhere from farms to city centers across Minnesota and Wisconsin. She is a performing member of Twin Cities physical theater group Combustible Company. In addition to performing, Joni has written original music for multiple shows in the Midwest including, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Monster Heart, and The Tempest.
Bradey Swanson - videographer
Bradey Swanson is a MN-based videographer currently completing a degree in film studies at Century College. He has been directing, filming, writing, and starring in his own short films for over five years.
Rochester Art Center - capstone event host
Rochester Art Center offers the opportunity for all people to understand and value the arts through innovative experiences with contemporary art. Through world-class exhibitions and programs, we present a welcoming, integrated, and diverse experience that encourages questioning, creativity, and critical thinking. These exhibitions and programs are designed to reflect the dynamic relationship between art and society. They educate, challenge, and connect individuals to our worlds in compelling new ways.
Capstone Event Details
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Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
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Saturday January 27th, 2024
If you missed the screening, you can view the film during the Driftless Dance Film Tour starting September 2024.
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FREE! :)
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The film will also be available online, more to come on that soon!
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
