Abu Dhabi

I have often felt that the power and flexibility of a game engine like Unreal Engine can be very helpful if used in performances. I worked with Company E this week in Abu Dhabi at the Cultural Center for The Pearl Diver’s Daughter. I created most of the visual design but built scenes in Unreal and rendered them as video files. It is remarkable that, unlike video, if I want to change a scene or add elements, it is pretty easy to do, provided you understand Unreal. However, it is not hard to wrap your head around. I mostly used free assets to populate a level, alter it to my liking, I added lighting and post-processing effects, and rendered the scenes.

The challenge was how long it could take to render a scene and the occasional error where it would glitch, the camera would move, or a particle would only be seen part of the time. I did have a few late nights, but all in all, everything was finished on time.

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Chat GPT

I asked ChatGPT to choreograph a dance for me, and this is what is said.

Choreographing a duet to the music of the Cocteau Twins is a fun and creative process that allows you to explore your own artistic vision and create a unique dance piece. When choreographing a duet, it is important to consider the music, the dancers’ strengths and abilities, and the overall theme or mood that you want to convey. Here are some steps you can follow to choreograph a duet to the music of the Cocteau Twins:

  1. Choose a song from the Cocteau Twins’ repertoire that you think would be suitable for a duet. Consider factors such as the tempo, rhythm, and lyrics of the song, as well as your own personal preferences and the dancers’ abilities.
  2. Listen to the song several times, taking note of any specific sections or phrases that stand out to you. Try to get a sense of the overall mood and energy of the song, and think about how you can use this to inspire your choreography.
  3. Begin by coming up with some rough ideas for the choreography. You can start by sketching out the structure of the piece, including the number of sections, the length of each section, and any transitions between sections.
  4. Work on creating movement phrases that reflect the mood and energy of the song. You can use a range of movements, including lifts, turns, jumps, and partnering work, to create a dynamic and expressive duet.
  5. Practice the choreography with your dancers, making any adjustments as needed to ensure that the movement fits the music and the dancers’ abilities.
  6. Rehearse the duet until it is polished and ready for performance. You may want to consider adding costumes, lighting, and props to enhance the overall aesthetic of the piece.

Remember, choreography is an art form, and there is no one “right” way to create a dance. Trust your own artistic vision and have fun exploring different ideas and movements.

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Tephra Performance

Close up photo of two people one above the other.

I was pleased to perform at Tephra Contemporary Art Institute with the amazing Rex Delafkaran for The Alloy Project. October 15th

https://www.tephraica.org/events/the-alloy-project

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Creative Pathfinders

Barnett Center Creative Pathfinder Series Guest
Thursday, April 7th, 4-5 pm

Interviewer – Vita Berezina-Blackburn
Zoom registration link please sign up

Please join us for the Barnett Center’s Creative Pathfinders series interview with ACCAD and Dance Department alum Boris Willis (MFA Dance and Technology ‘07). In the conversation hosted by ACCAD creative technologist Vita Berezina-Blackburn, Boris will reflect upon his academic career and creative entrepreneurship that bridges game design, physical and virtual performance, music, dance choreography and spoken word. The discussion will address the approaches to balancing creativity and technology as well as honoring one’s roots and connecting with the community. The conversation will also highlight Boris’s recent contribution to the timely book: Black Game Studies. The interview will be followed by live Q&A.

https://accad.osu.edu/news/dance-accad-alum-boris-willis-interview-april-7th

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Bucknell University

Please join me for a talk about creating digital experiences in media.

Zoom: https://bucknell.zoom.us/j/96588293899?pwd=R0wxNzhibjdSSkswZkVLUWNjWnoxdz09

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Game Mason

I had a wonderful time talking about motion capture and games at Game Mason. This is the College of Visual and Performing Arts annual game event with lots of games to play and learn about.

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Black Game Studies

Happy to have contributed to this important book. Get it on Amazon today.

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Mother’s Review

We got a very nice review from Dance Enthusiast. Read it below.

https://www.dance-enthusiast.com/features/impressions-reviews/view/Stefanie-Nelson-Mothers-Myths-Monsters-Matrophobia-Theater-Lab-Maya-Orchin-Boris-Willis-and-Maria-Takeuchi-?fbclid=IwAR3HoYnLXwvjSFgQsp9Xm_KShy49WGO_yNT80976ivnArHZsxzX5hFzFm6w

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Mother’s Myths and Monsters

Next up is a performance in NYC at Theater Lab. This work called Hey Mu tells the story of growing up with my grandmother, mom, and sister using dance and technology. Working with EMU and Maya Orchin and Stephanie Nelson. More soon… get tickets here. web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1087186

November 19 and 21 Theater Lab 357 W 36th St 3rd Floor NY, NY
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Live Streams and Things

Worked with Todd Clark on a few live streams recently. Worked with Alyssa Milano and Ben Jealous then with Nikki Giovanni and put in a bit of time working on the TIVA Peer Awards as the floor manager.

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