Evolution

Evolution is a collaborative design laboratory facilitating interdisciplinary experimentation in dance performance. Concert and Event Lighting designers from the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies join with Choreographers from the Department of Theatre and Dance and Composers from the Butler School of Music and throughout the University to create short dance works for a live audience.

Evolution, begins with students openly discussing creative ideas amongst their peers from different fields of specialization. As students are pitching their respective visions and promoting their skills, they are also actively looking for like-minded partners to form a performance team. It’s this open market of creative talent, that sets the stage for the remainder of the semester.

Evolution has been produced for several years. Each year the project is adapted to best fit the curricular goals for all associated contributing faculty.

Video produced by: - Raul Buitrago - Evolution - Spring 2022

Photographs by: Brian Birzer - Various student projects - Evolution - Spring 2022

Photographs by: Brian Birzer - various student projects - Evolution - Spring 2019

Each performance team will spend countless hours together brainstorming and adding to each other’s expertise to bring a unified vision to life. In just three short months, the students develop choreography, dance, costumes, music, lighting and projection.

Software utilized for this event included:

  • Hog4 Lighting Platform

  • TouchDesigner

  • Resolume

  • Ableton

  • QLab 4

Personnel Involved:

  • approx. 80 students

  • 5 faculty

  • 400 audience members