> Andy Clarke wrote: > Would it be possible for the nominees to give a brief personal statement? > ..... I feel that this type of information would be more useful in choosing > who to vote for. Greetings all, Apologies for not doing this sooner, but I have been out of town and out of touch a bit since Richard sent out the IDAT Board nominations. The list conversation/debate since the nominations were released has certainly given rise to many worthy issues, which deserve continuing attention by the dance-tech community, regardless of these initial IDAT elections. At this time, I would like to take Andy Clarke's suggestion (above), and offer a brief personal statement regarding my thoughts on dance and technology. I have the good fortune of knowing quite a few members of this list already, and I hope what follows--in addition to the information supplied by Richard when he sent out the ballot--will serve as an introduction to those of you I have yet to meet. I consider myself first and foremost a musician. My interests, expertise, and creative work led me quickly to technology and soon to many other expressive disciplines, including video, installation, and dance. Music, though, forms the foundation for my work, and is where I am most trained, experienced, and comfortable. This being said, my interest and work in other disciplines has not been something I have taken lightly. It has long been a goal of mine to fully integrate multiple disciplines in my creative work, not simply as a collection of disparate elements, but through a unified compositional practice. I continue to work toward this goal by seeking collaborations, training, and exposure in various disciplines. This is especially true with regard to dance. I see dance/technology as the most promising bridge between creative disciplines. Dance has always fostered an atmosphere of collaborative creation, and adding technology to the mix only increases this ability. "Technology", in this case, is a wonderfully flexible term, which invites all varieties of media, electronics, sensory equipment, alternative performance methods and venues, and interactive systems to take part. This invitation further extends to all those creating in these fields‹visual artists, writers, scientists, musicians, dancers, engineers, etc. Dance/technology provides a focal point for the coming together of these creators and their disciplines, a focal point that is inherently expressive, performative, and human. Dance/technology and IDAT can serve as an inspiring driving force in a time when many artists and institutions are struggling to conceptualize and implement "interdisciplinary" practices. Quite honestly, I am humbled to be in the presence of my companions on this initial list of nominees. Their vital contributions to the field in general and to the heretofore-unofficial IDAT organization are numerous. I assure you, however, that I would not be a part of this list if my commitment to dance/technology and IDAT was anything less than genuine, confident, and strong. I am pleased to offer some diversity to the list of nominees with my age (24) and position (student) and intend to speak especially to the concerns of the younger members of this burgeoning community. I look forward to getting to know more of you in the near future, and to serving this important new organization in any appropriate capacity. Best to you all, Peter Swendsen
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