Another Language Performing Arts Company

Elizabeth A. Miklavcic - Choreographic Works

When The Floor Bounces - November 13, 1993

When The Floor Bounces (1993)

Choreographer: Elizabeth A. Miklavcic
Music: Jimmy H. Miklavcic
Costumes: Elizabeth A. Miklavcic
Quilt Design and Construction: Elizabeth A. Miklavcic
Set Design: Elizabeth A. Miklavcic
Set Design and Construction: Jimmy H. Miklavcic
Lighting: Jimmy H. Miklavcic
Dancers: Jeannine Chan, Chara Huckins, Jane Gregory Payne
Location: Another Language Performance Studio, 345 W. Pierpont Ave., Salt Lake City, Utah
Length: 8:43 minutes

Description
Elizabeth Miklavcic specifically choreographed When The Floor Bounces as a repertoire contribution for the Company's children's concerts. This warmhearted dance is about the innocence and relationship of play. Inspired by Harlequins, the three dancers "play" in their environment as children do. The Harlequins dance with each other and manipulate the ever changing environment through the movement of the poles and material.

The tittle, When The Floor Bounces, comes from when children are fully absorbed at play bounce with joy. Whole worlds are created in a child's imagination. This creation is a world where poles could be trees, swings, seesaws, or a playhouse or a fort. These poles are meant to be played with, moved around, and explored. The material hanging from these poles changes from black and white to their magical undersides filled with color. At the end of the dance the Harlequin characters have worn themselves out, and they lay down to take a nap, as children do.

The stage set that makes up the interactive environment, consists of five poles designed by Elizabeth and constructed by Jimmy Miklavcic. The poles are topped with doll heads, and hanging, hand painted, black and white checkered material that serve as "tents" in which the playful characters can rearrange and hide. On the reverse side of the checkerboard material are colorfully crafted hand sewn quilts created by Elizabeth using a variety of scrap material. Jimmy Miklavcic's musical score was designed to enhance the tender, magical feeling of the dance.

Another Language Performing Arts Company held its second children's concert, See and Share, at the Another Language Performance Studio in November 1993. The intimate nature of the studio theater at 345 West Pierpont Ave in downtown Salt Lake City was perfect for this gentle dance. Three very highly trained dancers Jeannine Chan, Chara Huckins, and Jane Gregory Payne performed this dance with grace and expertise.