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Connecting Science and Art: ArcAttack & Chunky Move Bring Creativity to Rose-Hulman Performing Arts Series Shows
November 1, 2011
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ArcAttack
Sunday, November 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Hatfield Hall Theater
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
5500 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, IN
Tickets: $15 for adults and $10
for non-Rose-
Hulman students. Purchase tickets by
calling the
Hatfield Hall ticket office at (812)
877-8544 or
visiting the office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
on
weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
|
Two acts that share a common theme of combining science and
engineering with the beauty of the performing arts will perform
next week at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Hatfield
Hall. On Sunday, November 6, ArcAttack will bring its
electrifying show to the stage, followed on November 12 by the
award-winning Australian dance troupe, Chunky Move.
ArcAttack features the high-tech wizardry of a set of
custom-designed and built singing tesla coils. As the coils
throw out electrical arcs -- some nearly 12 feet long -- they
produce sounds reminiscent of an early synthesizer. This
allows the coils to be played like an instrument. The show's
master of ceremonies will engage the crowd, as well as the coils,
as he walks through the half-million volt sparks, protected by a
thin chainmail Faraday suit.
Accompanying this display are five additional members of the
high-tech spectacle playing other instruments, and a robotic drum
set, complete with flashing LEDs that light up with each stroke of
the mechanically-actuated sticks.
Bunny Nash, coordinator of Rose-Hulman's performing arts series,
says that the combination of science and art was too tempting to
pass up in deciding to bring this group to campus. The group,
which has appeared on America's Got Talent, melds technology and
performance in a stunning display.
"When I heard they were going on tour, I snatched them up!,"
Nash exclaims.
Each year, Rose-Hulman's Performing Arts Series features shows
that appeal to families and younger audiences.
ArcAttack, with its musical tesla coils, seeks to make science
exciting for the audience.
"We thought ArcAttack would appeal to all ages. This would
be a fun way to introduce the sciences to kids," Nash says.
As a special bonus, ArcAttack will provide special educational
workshops and classroom activities for Rose-Hulman students.
This special residency program enhances the performing arts series
for the college and its students.
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Chunk Move-Connected
Saturday, November 12 - 8 p.m.
Hatfield Hall Theater
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
5500 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, Ind.
Tickets: $18-$22 for adults and $15 for non-Rose-
Hulman students. Purchase tickets by
calling
the Hatfield Hall ticket office at (812)
877-8544
or visiting the office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
on
weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
|
Tickets for ArcAttack are $15 for adults and $10 for non-RHIT
students.
Meanwhile, Chunky Move will present Connected, a show blending
music and modern dance with a kinetic sculpture.
Choreographer Gideon Obarzanek animates both the body and the
machine through physical connection between the dancers and artist
Reuben Margolin's purpose-built sculpture on stage.
"I've always been drawn to dance and acrobatics, when they can
integrate engineering elements," Nash explains about including
Connected into Rose-Hulman's Performing Arts Series.
Beginning with simple movements and hundreds of tiny pieces, the
dancers build their performance while constructing the sculpture in
real-time. During the performance, these basic elements and
simple physical connections quickly evolve into complex structures
and relationships.
Suspended by hundreds of fine strings receiving information from
multiple camshafts and wheels, the sculpture translates the
dancers' movements into flowing shapes. The sculpture seems
to come to life as the wood, recycled plastic, paper and steel of
which it is made is set into motion. The result is a living
sculpture, incorporating human forms with mechanical
components.
Tickets for Chunky Move--Connected are $18-$22 for adults and
$15 for non-RHIT students. Persons can purchase tickets for
any Performing Arts Series show through the Hatfield Hall ticket
office by calling (812) 877-8544 or visiting the office from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.