The humanitarian, Gregorio Marañón, said there are two roles in society that are here to tell the truth - science and art.
Staying Alive combines contemporary dance, visual art and environment in an attempt to sensitize people to the true natural behavior of the inhabitants of our oceans, the cetaceans.
Staying Alive advocates for the welfare of captive whales and dolphins in marine theme parks worldwide.
WHO ARE WE?
North American choreographer and dancer, Camille Hanson, and Spanish visual artist, Juan Carlos Arévalo.
Since 2008 we have been working together fusing contemporary dance, photography and video creation into new and experimental works for festivals around Spain and Europe. Our interdisciplinary collaborations propose to break down assumptions of 'why & where' art happens in an attempt to recover a need for beauty and expand our sense of empathy, responsibility and environmental awareness.
Our last audiovisual and dance production, DUST AND WATER, was selected as the dance production for the London Festival "Spain NOW!," nominated the best British arts and culture festival of 2012. The work explored social and ecological thinking in times of dramatic climate change and was on tour from 2011 to 2014 with invites throughout Spain, Italy, Portugal, Mexico, and U.S.A.
FORMAL DEVELOPMENT
I am a kinetic learner which means I learn by doing - that desire to reach out and touch whatever I´m trying to understand is what draws me to dance not only as an art form, but a language, a tool for communicating and building dialogue.
"We are in an animal moment.” Cornell University historian Dominick LaCapra has claimed that the twenty-fist century will be the century of the animal. We´ve been so focused on ourselves until recently, but now things are shifting, scientific research is currently forcing us to expand our horizons concerning the cognitive and emotional capacities of other species.
Staying Alive takes inspiration from leading marine mammal scientist, Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D., neuroscientist, Dr. Lori Marino, and Ric O'Barry who have been advocating for the welfare of captive whales and dolphins for more than 20 years.
The impetus for this new creation is crystallized in one idea; habitat dictates behavior. The choreographic patterns explore the behavior of the body in two distinct environments: one of an unlimited spacial relationship where we investigate a variety of physical interactions and aerial behaviors natural to marine mammal wild life, such as breaching, spy hopping, cooperation and listening.
The other environment is that of spacial limitations where we are forced to find the potential or the physical possibilities within those limits. This includes unnatural behaviors found in captivity such as repetitive physical tasks, aggressive responsiveness, and states of remaining motionless.
Staying Alive exposes the vigorous difference that exists for the body in these two distinct environments, and highlights the irreplaceable importance of life in nature.
Art is a perfect platform for stressing the majesty and fragility of our surroundings as a species connected to the whole. If we are to work together on this powerful planet as individuals and communities, we need to nourish the qualities of listening and connectedness.
Objectives Staying Alive:
• Produce an interdisciplinary performance piece between dancer/choreographer, Camille Hanson, visual artist, Juan Carlos Arévalo, composer Miguel Marín, and guest dancers, Ugne Dievaityte, Stefano Fabris, and Poliana Lima
• Generate awareness that will foster future protection and pride for marine mammals and the natural environment
• Create an artistic project designed according to the support of Delphine Giraud Coordinator of ”La Dolphin Connection” (Spain), and the social structure of the international event "Empty the Tanks" (Madrid): a global movement which stands against the captivity of dolphins and orcas, promotes public education, eco tourism, and the conservation of the species and the ocean
COLLABORATORS
Artistic Direction, Concept and Choreography: Camille Hanson
Video Creation and Photography: Juan Carlos Arévalo
Performer: Camille Hanson
Guest Dancers: Ugne Dievaityte, Stefano Fabris, Poliana Lima
Sound Score: Miguel Marín (Arbol)
Wardrobe: Nikita Nipone
Diffusion: Delphine Giraud Coordinator "The Dolphin Connection" (Spain)
See Project Blog for the current and exciting evolution of the project (right hand side of this page).
PERFORMANCE DATES
May 24th, 2014// International Event "Empty the Tanks Worldwide" (Madrid), a public awareness event held in 40 locations in 20 countries around the world. More information: Empty the Tanks. View video: End Captivity.
June 21st, 2014 "Oxido Festival" (Madrid)
A fantastic invitation. I will present an extract of my solo at twilight in the outdoor patio.
June 28th, 2014 // Short Works Showing “Coreógrafos en Comunidad” (Madrid). Place: Conde Duque (Madrid)
February 2015 // Premiere of Staying Alive - "El II Festival Coreógrafos en Comunidad" (Madrid). A fantastic festival exhibiting cutting edge works. This festival was born with the purpose of promoting and stimulating the popularization of contemporary dance, as well as creating a fertile meeting ground between artists and the public.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT US?
Make a financial donation in exchange for an invite (s) to a performance, a dress rehearsal, a photograph (s) or receive a DVD of the completed production, as well as participate in a Master Class in Contemporary Dance with Camille Hanson. See pledges and rewards on right side of page. Depending on the pledge we plan to deliver the rewards post-performance (June 27th, 2014) and/or post-premiere (February of 2015).
HOW DOES CROWDFUNDING WORK?
It's very simple. 1º You choose the reward you like. 2º You register with Verkami with a valid email. 3º You choose the payment method you prefer. 4º When the campaign finishes (40 day period), only if it has reached it´s goal, will you be charged.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH YOUR SUPPORT?
Your support will help finance the expenses involved in production: sound recording and mixing, video recording material, rehearsal rental space (between August and December), wardrobe, set, lighting (stage and site-specific), and transportation of set and crew.
Thank you for your contribution and for helping us develop this new and important work. Together we can make it happen!
CHOREOGRAPHER`S WEB PAGE:
Camille Hanson
VISUAL ARTIST`S WEB PAGE:
Juan Carlos Arévalo
FOLLOW US:
Portfolio Staying Alive
Camille Hanson in Facebook
Camille Hanson in Twitter
WRITE US:
LINKS TO OUR WORKS:
DUST AND WATER
NOMADANS
MIGRATIONS
INTERVIEW with Camille Hanson
This morning I awoke to the most disturbing news in the Faroe Islands of northern Europe - 200 wild migrating pilot whales were hunted down this very morning and violently killed for not only their meat, but for entertainment. This bloody event, or rather massacre, is called the Grindadráp (murder of the whales) and is carried out by Faroese families between June and autumn each year. Considering that the Faroese enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world with the highest income per capita in all of Europe, the Grindadráp is nothing less than an indiscriminate and brutal injustice to the fragile ecosystem of the ocean.
"In 2015 with the diminishment of biodiversity, and with species after species going extinct, it is shocking that there are still people so alienated from reality that they continue to engage in contributing to the death… 
STAYING ALIVE: THE SACRIFICE OF GIANTS es un nuevo trabajo coreográfico de carácter ecológico que combina danza contemporánea e imagen en un intento de sensibilizar a las personas sobre el comportamiento natural de los habitantes del mar, los cetáceos.
Behind the Dolphin´s Smile - Captive dolphins… 
0 comments
If you are already a sponsor, please Log in to comment.