About Carol
Carol Hess has been making dances for nearly four decades. Born in New York City, she trained there as a dancer, and began a performing career in modern dance and as a tap soloist. In the genre of modern dance, much of her recent choreography has focused on the interaction between dance and video. Many of her dances for the stage feature the use of live camera feeds and/or pre-recorded images. She also choreographs, films and edits dances for the camera. Her dance films have been screened at… more
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Knowing/Moving Parts 1-3
"Knowing/Moving" is a site-specific, ‘structured improvisation’ piece for five dancers performed with and in response to "Knowing," an exhibit by several Maryland artists at AREA 405, a gallery in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District. Directed by Carol Hess. Sound performed live by Timothy Nohe.
Excerpts from Common Axis 13
Common Axis 13 is an abstract multimedia work for ten dancers. This excerpt includes sections with choreography by Carol Hess. Co-choreographed with Douglas Hamby, the full work features pre-recorded and live feed video projections (video footage by Vin Grabill, Timothy Nohe, and Nick Prevas, edited by Carol Hess) on a screen made of muslin panels to sound by Timothy Nohe. Performed by Baltimore Dance Project.
Knowing/Moving Parts 7-9
"Knowing/Moving" is a site-specific, ‘structured improvisation’ piece for five dancers performed with and in response to "Knowing," an exhibit by several Maryland artists at AREA 405, a gallery in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District. Directed by Carol Hess. Sound performed live by Timothy Nohe.
Knowing/Moving Parts 4-6
"Knowing/Moving" is a site-specific, ‘structured improvisation’ piece for five dancers performed with and in response to "Knowing," an exhibit by several Maryland artists at AREA 405, a gallery in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District. Directed by Carol Hess. Sound performed live by Timothy Nohe.
Substrata
An experimental dance/video piece in which a women is pulled into a dance that progresses down the entire length of a long, narrow tunnel. Choreography, video and editing by Carol Hess, performed by Mandi Davisdon and Jenifer Dobbins; music by Dillinger Escape Plan. Screened in 2006 at Phoenix Dance Company, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Maryland Film Festival 2006, Artscape 2006, Tucson Shortfest, Dallas Video Festival 2006, Rosebud Film and Video Festival 2007.
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Separate in the tunnelMandi Davidson and Jenifer Dobbins. Photo by Lindsey Vait
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Attitude ShapeMandi Davidson and Jenifer Dobbins. Photo by Lindsey Vait
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CarriedMandi Davidson and Jenifer Dobbins. Photo by Lindsey Vait
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Shadow CrouchMandi Davidson and Jenifer Dobbins. Photo by Lindsey Vait
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SubstrataAn experimental dance/video piece in which a woman is pulled into a dance that progresses down the entire length of a long, narrow tunnel. Performed by Mandi Davidson and Jenifer Dobbins. Screened in 2006 by Phoenix Repertory Dance Company, Maryland Film Festival 2006, Artscape 2006, Tucson Shortfest, Dllas Video Festival 2006, Rosebud Film and Video Festival 2007.
Private Property 2010
A 2010 reworking of an earlier piece for dancer and camera artist. The piece explores issues of privacy and voyeurism. The dancer performs a three minute sequence of movement alone, in silence. The camera artist enters and remains onstage with the dancer, capturing live video of her, in real-time, using in-camera effects. The video feed is projected onto a screen onstage in real time. With each repetition of the movement sequence, the dancer is captured in a different way, as the camera becomes more invasive. Choreographed by Carol Hess; performed by Michelle Brandenburg and Nick Prevas to music by Stuart Saunders Smith. Presented with Baltimore Dance Project at the UMBC Theater 2010.
Liquid Measure
A duet for two women who use their bodies as tools of measurement, investigating ancient methods of measuring. Conceived for a non-traditional performance space. Choreographed by Carol Hess; performed by Becky Dyson and Franki Trout; music by Johann Sebastian Bach, processed by Timothy Nohe. Performed at AREA 405 in Baltimore (2009), UMBC Theater (2010), Load of Fun Theater in Baltimore (2010), 2640 alternative performance space in Baltimore (2010).
Persona
A solo dance for a woman, who reveals different aspects of her character. In parts of the piece, she performs with a live video feed of herself, projected from a concealed tiny wireless surveillance camera. Choreography by Carol Hess, performed by Jenifer Dobbins, music by Kevin Bewersdorf. Presented by Phoenix Dance Company (2007), Frederick Cultural Arts Center (2007), Baltimore Cultural Alliance at the Patterson (2007), Dance Place, Washington DC (2007). Selected for performance at the Weinberg Center (2007) and Maryland Choreographers Showcase (2008.)
Site Visits
An experimental dance/video conceived for the camera. A woman wanders a hallway with many doors, and finds herself dancing in unexpected places, including a river and a forest. Choreography, video and editing by Carol Hess; sound score by Timothy Nohe; performed by Margaret Terry. Screened by Phoenix Dance Company, (2004), Maryland Film Festival (2004), Napolidanza â?? Italian Dance on Screen Festival (2004), Baltimore Artscape (2005), Rosebud Film and Video Festival (2005).