A new home for creativity and collaboration at VCU

A multimedia performance piece at the celebration showcased a newly produced screen dance work augmented by a live sound mix and live performers. The work is a manifestation of assistant professor of dance and choreography Sinclair Ogaga Emoghene's pioneering exploration into unconventional dance performance methodologies, incorporating a multivernacular dance practice. It blends forms of African contemporary dance with the study of movement.

Kinetic imaging chairman and professor Stephen Vitiello created a "sonic response" to the performance. It consisted of a piano piece (originally performed by Vitiello at the Robert Rauschenberg Residency in 2016 and reconstructed for this performance) as well as a waterphone, a bowed instrument often used for film sound effects, as well as sampled drums. With a mix of prerecorded and live elements all spatialized in real time, the piece took advantage of the ICA theater's multichannel speaker setup.

The propulsive, rhythmically charged sound composition could run parallel to - and weave in and around - Emoghene's choreographed screen dance and live performance piece.

"This project is an ongoing research with movement, aiming to catalog, articulate and weave together an expansive lexicon of dance," Emoghene said. The cinematic element of the performance is captured in a projected film - created by Sinclair Dance Co. in collaboration with VCUarts alum Oliver Mukherjee - creating a visual backdrop that complements the live exploration of its narrative by the dancers - dance student Addison Harksen and Robert Parietti of Sinclair Dance Co.

- in the immediate presence of the audience.

"This creation embodies the core aspirations and mission of the CCAI," he continued. "It's a testament to our commitment to cross-disciplinary fusion, showcasing the diverse fields within VCUArts. But our ambition stretches further, highlighting the profound impact of technology, the power of collaboration, and the richness of intellectual diversity on the new center's endeavors. This performance is a tangible demonstration of our prowess in merging academic insights with community knowledge, forging connections that transcend traditional boundaries. It's not just about showcasing our capabilities; it's about setting a precedent for what we believe the future of integrated, interdisciplinary exploration should look like."

Vitiello noted the anticipation for how the CoStar Center for Arts and Innovation could enhance such creativity.

"It's going to be a beautiful building that will elevate the performance possibilities for dance, music and theater but also for collaborative opportunities," he said. "The department that I chair and teach in, kinetic imaging, is full of faculty and students who are eager to explore, working with other departments as well as presenting immersive works of our own."

A song of inspiration

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