Channel Surfing

Mya Waple, School of Music, Theatre & Dance

Collaborator: Austin Mital-Skiff, LSA

Faculty Advisors: Shannon Gillen, Associate Professor of Dance; Charli Brissey, Associate Professor of Dance

Channel Surfing combines live dance performance with film and video production. The theme of the piece centers around the artist’s anecdotal lyrics, hidden under a funky, dream-like aesthetic sound score. The singer takes on a journey through time and space, as he recounts the events of his lover choosing another man. He takes a metaphorical approach, alluding to his lost lover as Cleopatra, Queen of the Kingdom of Egypt. At the halfway point, the music veers from our setting in Ancient Egypt, and takes us to a more modern era. The singer now speaks of motel rooms, cars, and even Converse tennis shoes to signify this jump in time.

The performance is laid out as follows: the piece begins with a four-minute section of live performance with 10 dancers on stage. After about three minutes of live choreography, a transitory lighting segment launches us into the film, projected on the back wall of the theater. The film is set to be approximately three minutes in length, and continues the aesthetic and theme from the first section.

What makes this project so exciting for me is the interdisciplinary element. Dance absolutely transforms when it is on camera. Cinematography allows us to completely change what the audience sees, and how they see it. The piece will take on an entirely new life, filled with whimsical, fantastical elements that could not otherwise be achieved in live performance. We will play with new camera movements and angles to create an intimate perspective for viewers.

In terms of timeline, our filming days are scheduled for October 27 and November 3, 2024. I will work closely with my cast on a weekly basis building the choreography and layout of the piece. I have created a running shot list for film day that best translates my vision to my collaborator, Austin. Austin, and I have scheduled gradual production meetings to share creative input, and adjust according to what is needed for the project. His responsibilities come with providing equipment, crew, and pre/post-production assistance, such as color filtering and editing. Austin and I have discussed our creative visions not only for this project, but our careers moving forward. For me, experiencing dance through a camera lens exercises such a different creative muscle for me and I am eager to dive deeper. For Austin, working with and capturing people who are so knowledgeable about movement allows him to expand his practice into a whole new realm.

This project is also a reflection of the general trend of dance and the arts in popular media. Music videos, commercials, and even live stage performances have boomed in the past few years with the combination of dance and film. This will provide an incredible opportunity for myself and my peers to gain experience, exposure, and material before entering the industry after our time here at U of M. We aim to continue in this line of work and are beyond excited to work with each other!

This project will be performed at the Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis Concert for three consecutive nights: November 21-23, 2024. The theater is located in the Performance Studio Theatre at the Dance Building on North Campus, 1000 Baits Dr.