October 23, 2024 5pm Orpheum Theater, Saugerties, NY $20
A retrospective of short films by Charles Dennis (1984-2024) concluding with the premier of “Drone Girl – Destination Zena” the lastest short film from choreographer/filmmaker Charles Dennis. Plus a live performance of “2x 2 x 4”, a duet for Charles Dennis and a stack of 2 x 4 lumber with live music by Spaghettil Eastern Music.
Drone Girl is the latest dance film by choreographer/filmmaker Charles Dennis. It is a duet for African American dancer/performer Stacey Smith and a flying drone aircraft. The film follows Stacey as she flees her Brooklyn basement apartment and drives upstate to a field at the foot of the Catskill Mountains. There she dons a chest harness with a go-pro camera that records her point of view and launches her drone. Stacey dances through the field as the drone tracks her and she tracks the drone. It’s a dance duet and a 3rd camera captures more of their relationship. The film is conceived as a tender expression of the relationship between a human and a drone.
Charles Dennis has created short films for over 40 years in addition to live performances.
Program
“Feet with The Beat” (1984), the first film Charles Dennis directed, was shot on Super 8 film and was featured in Charles’ 1984 performance piece “Faces In The Crowd” which was presented at P.S. 122 in New York City. The film follows the feet of a host of colorful characters as they dance through the streets of the East Village in NYC. With original music by Bob Telson. Running time: 5:51
“New York 1985” also filmed in Super 8 was originally included in Charles’ 1984 performance piece “Clearinghouse” which was presented at The Kitchen in NYC. The film follows 3 survivalist salesmen as they walk through the deserted streets of a post apocalyptic New York City. With original music by Bob Telson. Running time: 6:25
Contessa (1992) was created in collaboration with video designer Bruce Tovsky. The film was funded by a dance video grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and features original music by Bob Telson. A cast of 5 performers dance through a dream landscape. Running time: 6:32
5 Minutes to Bizzoso is a stop motion animation film that features performer Hank Smith riding a metal garbage can over the bridge. Music by Duke Ellington. Running time: 1:55
Shoot Out At Betacam Canyon was created during a 2000 residency at UCLA’s Center for Inter-Cultural Performance. In this short film 2 video gunslingers shoot it out in Laurel Canyon, Ca. Performed by Carmella Vassor and Charles Dennis. Music by Tex Ritter and Neil Young. Running time: 4:14
We Are The Dinosaur was created in collaboration with poet Bob Holman. The film combines footage of Holman performing his poem “We Are The Dinosaur” with shots of performers Charles Dennis and Marjorie Tesser romping around Manhattan wearing tyranasaurus rex masks. Original music by Hall Willner. Running time: 4:24
February is a short film created for the 60 Second Dance Festival in Denmark. It is a dance for hands moving in a winter landscape. Music and performance by Charles Dennis. Running time: 60 sec.
Squibnocket Tides was shot by Charles Dennis using a hand held go pro camera on a remote beach on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. In the film dance and camera movement reflect the shifting levels of both the ocean tides and internal states of consciousness. Original music by Alain LeRazer. Running time: 4:02
The Ride Home was created for the 2015 60 Second Dance Festival which had a theme of “time”. The film follows dancer Melissa Guerrero as she moves beneath the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Shot with a super slow shutter speed the film captures Guerrero’s movement in slow motion while cars race by.
After Rush Hour was created in collaboration with Greek dancer/performer Argyro Kourliti. Based on a live performance of the same title, the film focuses on a young woman’s attempts to find meaning and purpose as an artist in New York City. Text, choreography and performance by Argyro Kourliti. Adapted for the screen by Charles Dennis. Original music by Spyro Karagiannis. Running time: 6:41
Eg Anda- I Breathe was created for a competition that the Icelandic rock band Sigur Ros sponsored in 2013. The band invitied video creators to make a music video using one song from their 2012 album Valtari. The film features the band’s song Eg Anda – I Breathe and follows performer Mona Banzer as she swims underwater to a rocky island where she finds rest and renewal. Original music by Sigur Ros. Running time: 6:26
“ALEXCHRISTINE” is a short film about relationships, how important and complicated they are. The film explores, through dance and performance, a wide range of emotions and situations that a couple finds themselves in. Featured in the film are the dancers Alex Romania and Christine Bonansea Saulut. The film was shot at various outdoor and indoor locations in New York City and was choreographed by Charles Dennis in collaboration with the dancers. Also featured is an original musical score by Francesco Beccaro. Running time: 9:11
Onteora Ice Dance was shot using a drone to capture Charles Dennis’ ice dance on a frozen lake. Featuring original music by Peter Wetzler. Running time: 3:53