Two York University graduate students have collaborated on a short dance film and won the Best Idea award from the International University Global Theatre Experience (IUGTE) organization.
David Outevsky (PhD candidate) and Regina Bautista (masters candidate) created a multi-site, multi-art, dance film combining dance poetry and cinematography. The film, Fleeting Encounters, Shifting Pathways, is a short audio-visual piece demonstrating the thoughts, memories and feelings of a couple whose paths intertwine and then part.
Working with Videographer Anthony Girard, the team filmed at various locations around Toronto, with York University grounds and its Dance Department studios as the focal point of departure and return.
The process of choreography and rehearsals took several months. Coming from different dance backgrounds, Outevsky and Bautista had to find a common artistic basis. They tried to bridge the gap between western contemporary dance and ballroom dance within a narrative of spiritual detachment. Their choreography was developed from the inside out, using movement for exploration and personal experiences for inspiration. As the project evolved, the movement transformed and new creative elements were added.
In order to add another layer to their dance film, the dancers decided to each write a poem describing their meaning of the choreography. The first poem was written by Bautista as an epilogue to the choreography. Both poems were recited by professional actors Elodie Dorsel and Liam Lachance.
Girard, a budding videographer and filmmaker, managed to capture the essence of their performance in terms of angle, color, timing and mood.
The first portion of the filming took place at York University’s Dance Department studios, the public area in front of the newly built Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, and on the roof of Scott Library central square. The second portion of the filming was completed at Polson Pier, Woodbine beach, and Riverdale Park. By using these sites, the team wanted to convey the passage of time and the changing locations of creative life paths.
This project and its success can serve as an inspiration to emerging choreographers, filmmakers, and other artists interested in multi-disciplinary collaborations. It demonstrates the diversity and quality of creative work produced at York University and shows the beauty of its architectural sites and landscapes as they merge with other Toronto landmarks, while still highlighting their unique appeal.
For more, visit www.iugte.com.