ELECTRIC Slide and Other Sacred Geometries

A work of ethnographic performance

Inspired by Ancient Egyptian Mysticism, YouTube initiates, and American ritual spaces, such as the Black Family Reunion, I am investigating the hermeneutical possibilities of line dancing. The contemporary practice of line dancing is dynamically inter-generational, gender-inclusive, and parallel to forms that are culturally diverse (i.e The Texas Honky Tonk, Bollywood dance breaks, etc). In addition, I am interested in dance-as-ritual- communication, within a pop culture context, strikingly revealed in works such as Beyonce’s Coachella performance; as well as the monumental possibilities of movement related to record-breaking gatherings.

I propose a residency to creatively document existing line dances, investigate unlikely dance spaces (vacant racquetball courts, skate parks, retails stores, etc.), and consult with a Houston-based metaphysician. These private consultations and collaboration with a choreographer will be used to craft a new line dance as means of ethnographic documentation, in keeping with universal principles. The results will be shared via streaming video, printed material, and on social media. I will also commission a creative technologist to develop a motion capture library of the resultant dance forms for distribution. The collected data will exist at material to be used in the creation of soundscapes, collective color field portraiture, large scale sculptures, projections, and interactive apps.

Gainesville, FL will be among a growing list of sites including, but not limited to, Houston, Detroit, Tokyo, Atlanta, Cape Town, and Jacksonville. I also intend to create a small book published in print, and available on digital platforms, detailing my findings and sharing the resulting choreography through a created system of symbols.