Jody Sperling considers the dynamic conversation between technology and nature as played out in the performance art of Loïe Fuller (1862-1928) and her own Fuller-inspired creations. Considered a technological wizardress, Fuller advanced the technologies of lighting and projection design often for the effect of conjuring natural elements onstage. Sperling has been furthering Fuller's idiom into the ecological arena with a focus on creating dances that evoke natural processes, such as melting ice and changing wind patterns. Sperling discusses her emergent theory/practice of ecokinetics as a dance corollary to ecoacoustics, a form of music composition in which human-nature interactions are examined through technological mediation. The presentation includes media representing Fuller's oeuvre and Sperling's recent ecokinetics productions that are a collaboration with ecoacoustics composer Matthew Burtner.

Hosted by: Department of Dance