During the residency, butoh artist Vangeline will continue developing The Slowest Wave, a pioneering project combining butoh and neuroscience. In collaboration with neuroscientists Sadye Paez, Constantina Theofanopoulou and Jose ‘Pepe’ Contreras-Vidal, and composer Ray Sweeten, Vangeline is choreographing a 60-minute ensemble butoh piece, which is uniquely informed by the protocol being established for a scientific pilot study researching the impact of butoh on brain activity. Vangeline and Sweeten are building on a 20-year history of creative collaboration with a soundscape that is informed by techniques of brainwave entrainment (techniques that affect consciousness through sound). The Slowest Wave investigates the relationship between human consciousness and dance through the use of scalp electroencephalography (EEG); and will foster connections and understanding between dancers, artists, scientists, engineers, and audiences from around the world.
In October 2022, the first iteration of The Slowest Wave will premiere at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn. As part of her residency in January 2023, the dancers’ brain activity will be recorded for the pilot study at the University of Houston, Texas, culminating in a live performance, with real-time visualization of the dancers’ neural synchrony and slow brain wave activity. Results will then be disseminated in scientific journals.
Vangeline is one of six mid-career New York City-based dance artists who are in the process of developing a new project being supported by Gibney Center this year. The other 2022/23 DiP Artists are Ori Flomin, Antonio Ramos, Stacy Matthew Spence, Kate Watson-Wallace, and Director’s DiP/AiR Recipient Sidra Bell.
DiP is designed to provide extensive, holistic support for artists. Resident Artists each receive three weeks of exclusive, continuous access to a studio at one of Gibney’s locations, as well as a $7,500 stipend and a $2,000 allowance for artistic consultants. During their season in residence, participating artists will also receive an additional 40 hours of discounted studio space in designated studios, as well as professional development and administrative support from Gibney Center staff.
For more information about Vangeline and her work, visit vangeline.com.
Gibney’s Dance in Process Residency Program was made possible with generous support from the Mellon Foundation.
