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Moving Songs

From a Dissertation by Stephanie Meyer

 

January February 2016

UMKC - Performing arts center, White Hall, Nelson-Atkins Museum, Lincoln Prep

Stephanie Meyer is one of those superb operatic sopranos.
The "Moving Songs" project is from her dissertation (for the DMA, Doctor of Musical Arts)
I did photos and video of her performances as a permanent record

Stephanie put this together using seven André Previn songs and poetry by Toni Morrison.
She was, she noted, creating a Mark Morris inspired collaboration between music and movement.
The dancers and choreographer are from the UMKC Conservatory Dance Division

Cast
Cast, Left to Right:
Phoebe Perry (dancer), Stephanie Meyer (soprano), DaJuan Johnson (dancer), Lee Thompson (piano), Jacqueline Wood (narrator), Qizhen Liu (cello), John Roberts (choreography)

Although I took color pictures I also made a grayscale version of each because, as Stephanie noted, "The photos from the Nelson-Atkins exhibit that we are working with are mostly black and white, http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/exhibitions/through-the-lens/ .  Maybe black and white is a good idea for the poster photo too?  It would also save us from any compulsions to coordinate our rehearsal outfits"

The picture above is the only one I will show on this page in color. Even though the color versions are beautiful, the B&W versions provide a particular concentration on the subjects. So, the remainder of the pictures on this page are B&W (grayscale). I started in B&W (it was all we had that could be handled easily without touchy lab controls) and years ago I worked in several color labs as the B&W section of the lab. This gives me a chance to display a set of grayscale photos as a group.

 

Phoebe Perry
Phoebe Perry

Phoebe Perry and DaJuan Johnson
Phoebe Perry and DaJuan Johnson

Phoebe and Stephanie
Phoebe Perry and Stephanie Meyer at the Nelson-Atkins Museum

DaJuan Johnson
DaJuan Johnson

Phoebe jete
Phoebe Perry in the Nelson-Atkins (and concrete floor)

Stephanie and Mike working on the order for the slide projections
Stephanie and Mike working on the order for the slide projections

DaJuan Johnson and Phoebe Perry
DaJuan Johnson and Phoebe Perry

DaJuan Johnson and Phoebe Perry at the Nelson Atkins Museum
DaJuan Johnson and Phoebe Perry at the Nelson Atkins Museum

Jacquline Wood and Lee Thompson
Jacquline Wood and Lee Thompson

Qizhen Liu on cello
Qizhen Liu on cello

Rehearsal in studio - DaJuan Johnson and Phoebe Perry
Rehearsal in studio - DaJuan Johnson and Phoebe Perry

Phoebe Perry

Creative conference in PAC - Phoebe Perry, DaJuan Johnson, Stephanie Meyer, John Roberts
Creative conference in PAC - Phoebe Perry, DaJuan Johnson, Stephanie Meyer, John Roberts

Studio Rehearsal
Studio Rehearsal

Stephanie Meyer (front) studio rehearsal with (in back) Phoebe Perry, DaJuan Johnson, Qizhen Liu
Stephanie Meyer (front) studio rehearsal with (in back) Phoebe Perry, DaJuan Johnson, Qizhen Liu

Phoebe Perry
Phoebe Perry

Stephanie Meyer
Stephanie Meyer

Phoebe Perry (front) Stephanie Meyer, DaJuan Johnson
Phoebe Perry (front) Stephanie Meyer, DaJuan Johnson

Phoebe Perry and  DaJuan Johnson

Choreographer John Roberts, reading Toni Morrison poetry for the narration
Choreographer John Roberts, reading Toni Morrison poetry for the narration

DaJuan Johnson
DaJuan Johnson

Phoebe Perry, Stephanie Meyer, DaJuan Johnson
Phoebe Perry, Stephanie Meyer, DaJuan Johnson

Phoebe Perry and DaJuan Johnson - White Hall
Phoebe Perry and DaJuan Johnson - White Hall

Phoebe Perry, DaJuan Johnson - studio rehearsal
Phoebe Perry, DaJuan Johnson - studio rehearsal

Pianist, Dr. Lee Thompson
Pianist, Dr. Lee Thompson

LIft: DaJuan Johnson and Phoebe Perry
LIft: DaJuan and Phoebe

Phoebe Perry, DaJuan Johnson and Stephanie Meyer
Phoebe, DaJuan and Stephanie

2cnd of 2 jetes in a row at the Nelson - Phoebe Perry on concrete
2cnd of 2 jetes in a row at the Nelson - Phoebe Perry on concrete

Phoebe Perry, Stephanie Meyer, DaJuan Johnson
Phoebe, Stephanie, DaJuan

Phoebe Perry, DaJuan Johnson, Stephanie Meyer
Phoebe, DaJuan, Stephanie