By CAROLINE PALMER
Laurie Van Wieren curates the Minneapolis edition of Dances Made to Order, a dance-on-film-online project with themes selected in an online vote. Photo by Megan Mayer.
What does Minneapolis have in common with Los Angeles, New York City, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans and Austin, Texas this year? Three local choreographers featured on a monthly basis through the website Dances Made to Order, an online dance film festival created by Los Angeles-based producers Kingsley Irons and Bryan Koch.
Performing artist Laurie Van Wieren, who also hosts the monthly series 9x22 Dance Lab at Bryant Lake Bowl, is the curator for the Minneapolis edition. She has selected Kenna-Camara Cottman (director of Voice of Culture Drum and Dance), Pramila Vasudevan (director of Aniccha Arts) and the duo of Laura Holway/Ben McGinley to each make a five-minute film over a period of just a couple of weeks. The online premiere is set for July 25. Van Wieren, during a recent phone interview, said she is excited about the national visibility these up-and-coming dance makers will receive from participation in this project.
In a fun interactive twist, the artists don't choose the themes for their films – you do! Visit the website anytime until midnight on July 5 to select from a list of possible topics developed by Irons, the choreographer/filmmakers and audience members (click on the button that says "Inspire Our Artists"). They range from the concrete ("cooking utensils") to the abstract ("real/fake"). The top three choices will be integrated into each completed work. Van Wieren, said she expects these ideas will "spark something right away" for Cottman, Vasudevan, Holway and McGinley, all of whom are eagerly awaiting their assignments.
To view the completed films online, purchase a ticket through Dances Made to Order. See all three Minneapolis submissions for just $10 (20% discount if you vote for the themes) or view the entire season of films from across the country for $50 (this includes 33 films plus bonus content throughout the year). Last year's films are also available for viewing. Although the choreographers do not receive a commission, they do get a 65% cut in the ticket revenue, so your dollars can really make a difference.
Go here for a short video about the Minneapolis edition of this project.
Go here for an interview with Van Wieren.
