“On the Rocks”
a demonstration of site-specific choreography with guest artist
HEIDI DUCKLER
Monday, October 23, 3:30pm
at the Rock Garden in Aldrich Park
Los Angeles-based choreographer and Artistic Director, Heidi Duckler, is invited to UC Irvine to lead a two-day workshop and demonstration on site-specific, environmentally sensitive choreographic practice. The workshop, open to students in Dance and Drama, will be held on Sunday, October 22nd, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The demonstration of their work will be held on Monday, October 23, from 3:30 - 4:00 pm.
Heidi Duckler utilizes improvisation and prompts inspired by a specific locale. As the founder and artistic director of Heidi Duckler Dance in Los Angeles and Heidi Duckler Dance/Northwest in Portland, Oregon, she has staged over 500 works. Her methodology emphasizes how dance, born from individual experience, can be a tool for awareness.
She will be collaborating with Jiryis Ballan, a Palestinian composer, Buzuq player, performer, and musical director, currently pursuing a Ph.D. at UCI.
“On the Rocks” is part of a two-day event on the Eco-Arts, defined as artistic practices that center on developing sensitivity and responsiveness to the environment. Co-organized by Carrie Noland (French), Lisa Naugle (Dance), and Jamie Nisbet (Art History), the event is supported by a “Building Intellectual Community” Grant from the UCI Humanities Center, Environmental Humanities Research Center, and Illuminations. Before “On the Rocks” there will be a conference, hosted by the Department of Art History and the Environmental Humanities Research Center, bringing together students from UCI, UCLA, and Northwestern University to discuss their shared interests in ecocritical and environmental approaches to the history of visual and site-specific artmaking. The events will culminate with a Round Table discussion including Heidi Duckler, Professor Lisa Naugle, Professor Jamie Nisbet, and other participants.
All students, faculty and staff are invited to the demonstration and conference. Both events are free.