Static (6 min. 2001) Choreography and performance by Deepti Gupta with Arzoo Dance Theatre, sound by Anna and Jeremy Greenspan, and video design by Lester Alfonso. This is an excerpt from the video documentation of the art/performance event in Toronto by the Hijack collective called Zero.
7/360
Day 7 of 360 videos from my archive. Today’s offering is Static (2001). When choreographer Deepti Gupta approached me with an idea to create kathak inspired modern dance using the soundtrack of TV static — I was intrigued. I was to create a video backdrop for the performance. I was more than happy to sample different “types” of video static (ie. snow) to complement each subtle change in tone. For the projection, I insisted on having the image touch the floor so that the entire body can be covered. The use of the corner in the performance space was an inspired use of site-specific architecture.
This video shows the second iteration of the choreography. There was a third (epic) version mounted in 2007 with a larger ensemble and then a fourth version was mounted in 2019 reverting back to a powerful solo performance by Deepti Gupta. The soundtrack by Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys remains as relevant and haunting today as ever even almost 20 years later. Enjoy!