How Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre Pushes the Boundaries of Dance

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre dancers rehearsing for their upcoming performance, Interactions © Shoccara Marcus

One Atlanta-based ballet company is bringing together art and science during its upcoming spring /summer performances.

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre is working on two pieces that explore the intersection of movement and mental health in a way that keeps its audiences engaged and entertained. One is a socially distanced outdoor performance, and the other is a cinematic experience. But first, a little backstory.

Founded by five principal dance artists, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre is an Atlanta-based ballet company that combines classical and contemporary dance forms. What does this mean? It means some of the best professional dancers come together to create works that are rooted in classical ballet but aren’t limited by it. Their performances are infused with modern aspects of dance across its choreography, music, costumes, performance venues, and collaborations.

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre dancers in their Atlanta studio © Shoccara Marcus

And in the case of Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre’s two upcoming pieces, it’s the collaborations that make them so unique.

Let’s take The Poet, the company’s new dance film. That’s right – it is a performance made explicitly for the camera, and Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre has collaborated with director and cinematographer Joseph Guay to create a big-screen-worthy experience. The film also has an original score by Andy Kurtz and features the poetry of Kahlil Gibran.

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre’s upcoming dance film, The Poet © TMBT

Tara Lee, the creator and choreographer of The Poet © TMBT

The Poet tells the story of an 80-year-old man with Dementia, where choreographer Tara Lee delves into the difference between reality and imagination through movement. "My interest for this piece is to find the beauty that potentially remains in one's mind amidst the fundamental losses that come with dementia," says Lee. “Despite the fading of memory, can someone still find themselves through art and remember what is most emotionally life-affirming?” 

The Poet will be available for purchase starting June 11, and audiences will be able to watch the film on-demand any time, as many times as they’d like.

And expect to see more dance films from Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre in the future. “Film opens up a whole new world of opportunity for dance as an artistic expression,” says John Welker, Director of Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre. “It’s a lesson we learned during Covid, and it’ll be part of our ongoing content we create.”

Another performance where Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre explores mental health through movement via collaborations is Interactions | Boundaries of Identity & A.I. Through a partnership with leading neuroscientists from Georgia Tech and Emory University, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre explores the role of artificial intelligence inside the human body.

Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre dancers preparing for Interactions © Shoccara Marcus

In other words, Interactions sheds light on the idea of the human cyborg. Specifically, it focuses on the ethics around using neurotechnology to treat mental illness. The technological change is outpacing the ethical conversation around this subject, and this performance helps the audience navigate the line between technology and humanity as parts of their identity.

If you think about it, movement – and dance, in particular – is the perfect way to explore the role of A.I. inside the brain. “The ability of the human body not just to move, but to express through movement emotions and feelings is very much a mystery,” says Welker. “With neurological disorders that medications fail to treat, movement can bring some of the issues to light in a way that is evocative and thoughtful,” he adds.

Interactions is part of the Georgia Tech Arts Skyline Series, so it’s an outdoor performance that takes place on the Georgia Tech campus. Tickets for the May 18 performance are on sale now, and the seating is sectioned off into two or four-person socially distanced pods.

Following the Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre program, choreographer Troy Shumacher and some of the neuroscientists will hold a panel discussion to give insights into the research and collaboration behind Interactions. The May 18 show is the first part of a three-part performance, so be on the lookout for part two and three throughout late 2021 and early 2022.

Personally, I hope you get a chance to partake in both the live performance and the digital film. This way, you’ll get to know Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre across multiple mediums, which truly showcases the company’s extraordinary ability to mix storytelling with dance. Be sure to check out their website for more details about all their offerings.

Anna Lanfreschi is a digital content creator and strategist based in Atlanta. She posts about food and travel on her blog, AnnaFeasts, and on Instagram @AnnaFeasts.

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Evocative Art Projection To Illuminate Iconic Downtown Atlanta Fountain on New Year's Eve

A 2-month art exhibition exploring the theme of water. Featuring three light-based landmark sculptures installed on the park's main lawn as well as a project...

To welcome 2021, Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and Arts & Entertainment Atlanta (A&E Atlanta) have commissioned a special projection artwork by local artist Kris Pilcher to debut on New Year's Eve on the Woodruff Park International Peace Fountain water wall.

Pilcher's piece, "Perseverance," will be featured alongside projection artwork installations by Amelia Carley, NNEKKAA, and Joseph Peragine that are part of the PRISM: Winter Lights at Woodruff Park temporary exhibition curated by Dashboard.

PRISM: Winter Lights also features three light-based, landmark sculptures by MaDora Frey, Jason Sweet, and Ellex Swavoni installed on the park's main lawn. View the PRISM: Winter Lights exhibit guide here.

"Perseverance is a digital monument to the people of the second decade of the 21st century," said Pilcher. "We have survived a struggle unlike any in our lifetimes, and perseverance is a message of hope that we may break our confinement and close the distance between us in the New Year. This is a series of advanced particle generation and computer rendering techniques used to turn the numbers 2021 into alive and dynamic digital ephemera."

"Perseverance" will be on display December 31 through January 10. All other PRISM artwork will remain on display through January 31. Projection mapping artwork runs daily from sunset to 10:00 p.m. The park and exhibit are free and open to the public.

Park patrons are reminded that physical distance must be maintained between them and anyone outside of their party and are encouraged to follow the CDC's guidelines for visiting parks.

For more information about PRISM and Woodruff Park, including park hours and directions, visit www.WoodruffPark.com.  

PRISM: Winter Lights at Woodruff Park is made possible through the generosity of Delta Air Lines. Additional support has been provided by the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, Arts & Entertainment Atlanta, and the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation.

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Vitra and Virgil Abloh drop limited edition "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" collection on Basic.Space

Swiss design company Vitra and Virgil Abloh have collaborated to drop three limited edition "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra" products, available to U.S. consumers for the first time via online marketplace Basic.Space. Products will be available for sale globally through the site's digital storefront, which will livestream the collection and a special DJ music performance by Pedro Cavaliere from a 6-day pop-up installation in Miami's Design District. The installation was created by Abloh's London-based studio Alaska Alaska and is powered by Cash App as part of the company's ongoing efforts to support the creative community. Additional, Abloh and Vitra CEO Nora Fehlbaum will have a conversation about the collection that will air on Abloh's IGTV channel.

"Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" explores the urgent need for inclusivity in design, and invites people of all generations, races and backgrounds to have conversations about both social issues and design topics. Virgil Abloh is known for pushing boundaries and using creativity to communicate socio-political messages while Vitra has a long history of undertaking experimental projects with designers, architects and artists that test the limitations of design's predicted norms.  Driven by the new mindset of Generation 'Next' – a forward-thinking psychographic that transcends age, gender, race, ethnicity and income – Basic.Space provides forward-thinking brands such as these with an innovative approach for reaching new audiences, turning the traditional retail model on its head. The Basic.Space community of creatives makes it possible for brands to speak and connect with this new generation that is changing the way we see the world.

"My mission has not changed. My hopes for this collaboration are to further strengthen this bond with the new generation, providing them with further inspiration, as well as room for thought and a sense of inclusion. This collaboration invites the new generation into the conversation – my work is meant to open doors for them," says Virgil Abloh.

"What I find particularly inspiring about Virgil Abloh is that he comes to the table as an outsider, with a fresh look at our collection and a different pace, free of constraints," says Nora Fehlbaum, CEO. "I'm interested in the way that he structures knowledge and passes it on to a new generation in such a condensed manner. He manages to shift the topic of design classics away from the discourse of an intellectual elite to make them accessible to a wider public."

"We're excited to partner with Virgil Abloh and Vitra on this thought-provoking collection, one that embodies inclusivity and design, while inviting a new audience to experience something unique.  This collaborative release captures the essence of Basic.Space where brands and creatives can manifest their vision effortlessly both online and offline," said Jesse Lee, founder of Basic.Space.

"Basic.Space offers a unique shopping experience that seamlessly integrates our digital and physical worlds. The platform is authentic, socially conscious and design-centric -- traits that are inherent to our company and important to our customer. This partnership allows Vitra to interact with a new audience and the opportunity to meet the next generation of young design collectors," says Melissa Shelton, Vitra North American President.

The "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" collection is a spin-off to an earlier collaboration that dropped in 2019 on Vitra's Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany during Art Basel alongside a futuristic exhibition TWENTYTHIRTYFIVE. The three pieces – a Ceramic Block, along with the Petite Potence lamp and Antony armchair originally designed by Jean Prouvé, are reimagined in baby blue that Abloh intends to stand alone as an object with a function. The "hacked" Prouvé pieces represent the power of design to evolve in order to speak to a new generation.  

"Jean Prouve worked as a craftsman, designer, manufacturer, architect, teacher, and engineer - he truly was a multifaceted designer and not limited to one "discipline". His many talents translate through his work – intertwining art with social consciousness. I feel interconnected with Prouve in light of, I too, work within many worlds; art, fashion, music and philanthropy– meshing my ideas from these many realms together for a greater message to the world," says Virgil Abloh.

"Practicing and welcoming inclusion – I created the "Post Modern" Scholarship Fund in effort to do just that. The mission of the Fund is to foster equity and inclusion within the fashion industry by providing scholarships to students of academic promise of Black, African-American, or African descent; recipients will not only be provided with funds, but will also be given access to vital career support services and mentoring. Art and good nature can change the world, I refuse to believe otherwise," says Virgil Abloh.

"The teenager of today has become a creative doer who transforms his memories and experiences, all of the cultural and social influences, into his or her own products, thereby finding a personal field of activity,' says Fehlbaum.

The "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" installation takes place at 140 NE 39th Street in the Miami Design District, and is open to the public December 3-7, from 11am EST to 7 pm EST, limited to five visitors allowed into the exhibition space at a time, in accordance with city guidelines and enhanced safety measures in place. Visitors can purchase limited edition and numbered pieces and enjoy live and digital experiences at the space.

Ceramic Block 
In the installation, the visitor's gaze is directed to the future with a wall of consecutively numbered bricks: the Ceramic Blocks. These glazed ceramic objects are not just a structural element but also take on a life of their own as storage objects in Virgil Abloh's concept. The limited exhibition edition comprises 999 Ceramic Blocks, in baby blue, each with a noticeable numeral that makes it unique, and can be purchased directly at the Basic.Space "gallery," modifying the structure of the installation, or on the curated online marketplace Basic.Space from December 3 to 7.

Petite Potence
Jean Prouvé created the Potence wall lamp for his home in Nancy in 1942, and the design was soon produced in a range of sizes. Virgil Abloh is fascinated by the industrial clarity of this concept and integrates the smaller Petite Potence in his installation. He has accentuated the 'industrial DNA' of the design with a baby blue lacquer finish that gives it a new visibility, while a striking LED bulb in an oblong cage further enhances the appearance. Virgil Abloh's version of Petite Potence is available in a limited and numbered edition of 150 pieces. 

Antony 
The armchair Antony was developed by Jean Prouvé in the early 1950s for the university halls of residence in Antony near Paris. With its dynamically curved wooden shell and characteristic metal base, this small armchair was one of the French designer's last furniture creations. Virgil Abloh pays tribute to the iconic design with an updated version in his installation, he has transformed the armchair by giving it a frosted plexiglass shell, which is further accentuated by a baby blue lacquer finish. This version is available in a numbered edition limited to 150 pieces.   

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