New dates for July 2 & 3

Rehearsals are well underway now and we have set new dates for the performances on July 2 & 3 to coincide with the Tertiary Dance Festival.

Here is a little blurb I have written for my press release:

House of Memories is a kinaesthetic, aural and visual performance directed by this year’s Caroline Plummer Dance Fellow, Suzanne Cowan. Audiences will experience a sensory journey through a series of vignettes representing the unique world of people with visual impairments.  The performances will run on the 2^nd and 3^rd of July at 551 Castle St as part of the Tertiary Dance Festival at Otago University.

Visitors to the Castle St villa will be led through seven performance installations,  to experience a slice of the performers’ lives:  the high speed technological sound equipment of a blind man  juxtaposed with a graceful duet derived from guiding techniques; a woman’s passion for wool-handling explored as a gestural solo and the precious memories of a man’s ballroom dancing days brought to life with a live band. The audience will also experience a maze navigated entirely through sound and texture.

Each room’s intimate story is an expression of home and told through a variety of mediums including voice and sound recordings, dance, photography and film.

House of Memories is the culmination of Cowan’s fellowship project for 2010. The Fellowship, hosted by the Physed Department at Otago University, focuses on community dance and developing awareness of cultural diversity. As a dancer/choreographer , Cowan has worked in mixed ability dance both nationally and internationally for the past ten years.  In 2008 she was the recipient of the Art Award and Supreme Award for the NZ Attitude Awards for people with disabilities.  Her most recent piece for the mixed ability , Touch Compass Dance Company , ‘Grotteschi’ (2008) was described by Auckland dance reviewer, Bernadette Rae, as winning her “My Most Memorable Work of the Year prize”.

Bookings are essential for House of Memories as audiences are limited to fifteen people per showing. On both Friday and Saturday night there will be showings at 7, 8, and 9pm.  Bookings can be made via email.  Contact suzanne.cowan@otago.co.nz.