Elizabeth A. Miklavcic - Choreographic Works
Distance Happens In No Time - January 29-30, 1988

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Distance Happens In No Time (1988)

Choreographer: Elizabeth A. Miklavcic
Music: (Video Credits)
Costuming: Elizabeth A. Miklavcic
Lighting: Jimmy Miklavcic
Dancers: Brenda Lynn Davis, Linda Parker, Mary Lameka, Doug Miklos, Lori Hunter, Amy Lang, Leah McCoy, Kathleen Tirell, Laurel Rollins
Location: University of Utah Modern Dance Department Theatre 208, Salt Lake City, Utah
Length: 13:05 minutes
Description
Elizabeth Miklavcic for her Master's Thesis Concert, Secrets Leaking, held January 29-30, 1988, choreographed Distance Happens in No Time. The concert was held in the 208 Theatre in the "old" dance building on the University of Utah campus. This concert was video taped with two VHS cameras and mixed live by Jacqueline Clifford, the first time live mixing of a performance was attempted at the Modern Dance Department. In 1988 recording video, especially in low light, was extremely difficult, as a result some of the movement phrases are very difficult to see, but Elizabeth is pleased to have a video record of the work.

A painting by Steve Fawson, Requiem for Little Michelle, inspired this work. Imagery in the painting consisted of a large white feather in the upper right corner, in the upper left corner was a small white china teacup and saucer. A delicate white porcelain bird was in the very center while a dead, brown realistic bird was placed in front of the porcelain bird.

Within the choreographic structure, placement of the objects in the painting was emulated by placing three distinct events on the stage space. The strong symbolism in the painting of time, life and death was the influence for the movement choices of the three events. Five women represented the white feather and a timeline; through their movement they represented the continuing advancement of time. The upstage duet, emulated the weight bearing of the teacup and saucer in the painting. The dancers were a pair that stayed in contact until being swept up and caught up in time. The downstage duet was symbolic of the struggle between life and death. The timeline eventually caught up with the downstage duet, as well, and the timeline swept up everyone except the person who was already beyond time.