Event details

• Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
• Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive, KU campus, Lawrence
• Cost: $10 - $26
• Age limit: All ages

This multimedia dance performance by the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange examines the science and the effects of genetic research. Through groundbreaking movement and theatre, the Liz Lerman Dance exchange investigates the prospects and possibilities that genetic research is currently creating. Under the artistic direction of award-winning choreographer Liz Lerman, this mixed discipline work integrates dance, recorded and live-feed video and a multichannel soundscape. Through collaboration with 34 genetic scientists and researchers from across the country, Ferocious Beauty: Genome aims to explore the implications and emotions associated with genetic research. The piece creates a series of questions regarding the startling realities of how understanding the human genome might change the way we think about, and are able to live our lives. Ferocious Beauty: Genome is a cooperative work. It includes contributions from artists, scientists and educators from institutions including John Hopkins University, Stanford University, Howard University, the Genetics and Public Policy Center and the U.S. Department of Energy. As a continuation of KU and the Lied Center's Creative Campus project last season, Lerman will facilitate a Creativity Summit where she will lead invited KU faculty through a Critical Response Process seminar—showing the group an innovative method for generating feedback and evaluation. Lerman is an American Choreographer Award-winner whose work has been commissioned by the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, BalletMet and Harvard University. In 2002, she was the recipient of a MacArthur Genius Grant fellowship, and is the author of Teaching Dance to Senior Adults and Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process. Lerman founded Liz Lerman Dance Exchange in 1976. It is a multigenerational ensemble featuring dancers whose ages span five decades. While in Lawrence, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange will conduct a week-long residency including activities with University of Kansas dance students, physics and astronomy students, the 940 Dance Company and more. The ensemble will also participate in the Lied Center’s Performing Arts 3to5 program. The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange residency schedule includes: Monday, Nov. 2 Performing Arts 3to5 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Lied Center stage An educational program for children ages 3 to 5, offering informal and fun performing arts experiences. Tuesday, Nov. 3 Performing Arts 3to5 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Lied Center Stage Advanced technique master class 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Robinson Center Liz Lerman Dance Exchange modern dance technique class for KU students taught by Cassie Meador and other company members. Making Genes Dance, free film and discussion 4 p.m., Spencer Museum of Art Auditorium An Emmy award-winning short film chronicling the year-long engagement of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange with arts and civic organizations in Flint, Mich. The themes surrounding genetics that the dance company explored with the organizations ended up informing parts of the Ferocious Beauty: Genome performance work. Members of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange will be present at the discussion. The Matter of Origins discussion (not open to the public) Lerman discusses her new work, The Matter of Origins (working title), with KU physics faculty and students. Inspired by Lerman’s visits to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the work probes questions about the universe and the origins of matter. The Matter of Origins will be presented in a future Lied Center season. Wednesday, Nov. 4 940 Dance Company master class 9-10:30 a.m., Lawrence Arts Center Liz Lerman Dance Exchange modern dance technique class for 940 Dance Company members taught by company members. Creativity Summit 5 p.m., The Commons Lerman will lead invited KU faculty through a Critical Response Process seminar—showing the group an innovative method for generating feedback and evaluation. Thursday, Nov. 5 Technique + Process Workshop on Ferocious Beauty: Genome 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Robinson Center Using repertoire from Ferocious Beauty: Genome, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange Associate Artistic Director Elizabeth Johnson will demonstrate how to build dance technique. Saturday, Nov. 7 Choreographer Workshop 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Lawrence Arts Center’s Choreographer’s Conference Liz Lerman Dance Exchange Associate Artistic Director Elizabeth Johnson will lead workshop members through a Creative Response Process seminar. The group will attend the Ferocious Beauty: Genome performance together. Ferocious Beauty: Genome 7:30 p.m., Lied Center Groundbreaking performance explores the science behind, and the impact of, genetic research through movement, music and theatre. Ferocious Beauty: Genome post-performance discussion 9:30 p.m., Lied Center Seymour Gallery (second floor) Q&A with Liz Lerman and Dance Exchange company members. Still to be scheduled Liz Lerman and dance company discussion with KU student organizations members for Spencer Museum of Art, Lied Center, KU Dance, KU Theatre and Natural History Museum. *residency schedule is subject to change Ferocious Beauty: Genome is presented in part by the Kansas Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.