Author: karalthurmond@gmail.com

The Waiting Series consists of six image-based works, performed over a decade, that uses carefully chosen distilled movement and evocative music.  “Fine story telling…. making time elastic enough to tell a tale of generations…layered, strangely wistful “– Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times. John Laprade creates original compositions that poignantly connects many of the pieces in this thematic series. Collaboratively created with visual artists Marketa Fantova, Lisa Vining, Judi Strahota, Jen McClur, and Angie To, the work has been performed in multiple art galleries and theaters in New York.

For D. Chase Angier's 50th birthday, she  decided to lure her friends from far and near to her Funeral Dress Rehearsal. She had attended many funerals and had often thought they could have been better with just a little more rehearsal. She began the dress rehearsal with  instructions for her funeral, and had live performances by Brian Brooks, Robert Bingham, the Alfred Ceramists and her husband and son to further illustrate her demands/requests. All of the funeral guests were asked to wear  funeral attire. She had video auditions for the funeral officiator and a rehearsal video eulogy.  Officiator Audition Visual Artist Angie To built the casket made out of biodegradable cardboard, and Angier created the choreography for the pallbearers. Choreography for Pallbearers First attempt at a Eulogy   The evening ended with a 70’s…

Circling was an immersive site specific performance at Foster Lake in Alfred, New York.  The audience was led slowly around the lake in silence, taking in the sounds, smells, and sights.  The audience stopped at various vantage points to experience performance events occurring across the lake, on the lake, and surrounding them around them in the woods. Circling was performed by members of D. Chase Angier’s Site Specific Performance course at Alfred University.  Please visit ausitespecificperformance.blogspot.com  

A guided, performative event, Dreams of the Other Side unfolded in the woods, marshes, and on a lake surrounding the audience during the height of fall foliage season. As the audience was led around the lake, eight dancers moved slowly to the music of Georgy Sviridov that was performed live by over twenty singers. Vocalists in cascading dresses sang from a dock, a small island, and on an old rowboat that moved in rhythm with the audience, offering a multi-sensory experience. Created by Marketa Fantova and D. Chase Angier in collaboration with the Alfred University site specific performance and design students, Luanne Crosby as a soloist, and the Alfred Chamber Singers directed by Luanne Crosby.

Performed underneath a sparkling installation created with 2,600 pieces of mylar, sixteen dancers perform several dances that address romance, soap operas, and the stars of a benign sky. Created specifically for this site, Angier uses the balconies, the rusted aesthetics of the space implying memories of better times, and delicious music to house the multiple dances. Over 200 people attended the performance that was part of the Triangle Arts Project in Denton Texas. Choreographed by D. Chase Angier in collaboration with the performers Installation Design by D. Chase Angier Performed by Gabrielle Aufiero, Krissy Barcenas, Whitney Boomer, Crysta Caulkins, Elyse Cox, Amanda McCorkle, Danielle Monks, Lourdes Pelaez, Imara Quinonez, Stephanie Reed, Julie Rowley, Elva Salinas, Lauren Schieffer, Melissa Watt, Megan Yankee Music by Misia, Kirsty MacColl, Papa Mali For more…