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The Rice Thresher
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by KRISTINA GROENNINGS FOR THE THRESHER When the new Humanities Building officially opens next October, the event will be celebrated by dancing about architecture. The university has commissioned Steve Koplowitz to create a work to be presented at the opening ceremonies of the Humanities Building next fall. Koplowitz is a director and choreographer from New York and a professor at the Packer Collegiate Institute. His specialty is "on-site choreography," which is the artistic interpretation of architectural works. Koplowitz visited campus Feb. 18 to discuss the possibilities with some Rice students. Typically, Koplowitz said he first assesses the character of a building and the size of his audience before deciding on the number of dancers involved and the music for the production. However, the project at Rice will be a first for the artist, in that he has seen only a digital rendering of the site. "I've never done a project where the building didn't exist before I did the work," Koplowitz said. Koplowitz choreographed for seven years before getting his first big break - New York's Grand Central Station. Since then, he has done work worldwide, including the opening of the new British Library, for which he was featured in a 1989 PBS special. On-site choreography is gaining acceptance as a form, becoming more well-known in the last 12 years, Koplowitz said. Koplowitz projects that he will need 50 to 60 dancers for the opening of the Humanities Building. The group will consist of dancers from Rice, the University of Houston and professionals from the Houston area. "I hope that my largest group of dancers are from Rice," Koplowitz said. He strongly encourages any students interested to audition. "No matter what happens, there is definitely something to be learned and gained from it. Especially as a student here, you'll develop a relationship to that building that no one else on campus will have," Koplowitz said. Koplowitz already has a vision of what he intends to do with the performance. All three floors will be used. In each room, different groups of dancers will highlight various architectural aspects of the building. Additionally, each room will have its own distinct lighting, music and theme. The dancers will interpret the structure's educational purpose as well as the history and components of the humanities departments. Koplowitz said he will also try to convey a sense of the Rice experience. "I think it'll be a really cool thing to do, getting to work with him and getting to dance with Houston professionals," Kristen Dybala, co-president of Rice Dance Theater and a Sid Richardson College junior, said. "I think it's unusual, but I think that's what's cool about it." This type of performance will be different and in some respects more challenging. "We've all grown accustomed to what to expect - the stage, the audience," Koplowitz said. "In this line of work, I never know what I am going to encounter." Auditions for Rice students will be held March 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. and March 22 at 4 p.m. Not all auditions will be on campus. Inquiries should be directed to Kinesiology Professor Linda Phenix, who will help coordinate the Rice dancers. The Rice group will most likely be working with Koplowitz during the last few weeks of August as well as in September and October. "All of the work I've done on sites is making history and you will be making history, ... history on campus and dance history," Koplowitz said. The first of three performances will be open to donors and individuals affiliated with Rice. The remaining two will be open to the public. "We're giving the audience our views on academics and life, and to me that's fun," Phenix said. - back -
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