Film Series
Intaglio: A technique where an image is cut into a surface, like etching or engraving.
Jonas Olivera dancing in front of Janet Sobel, Untitled, ca. 1946-1948. Oil and enamel on canvas. The San Diego Museum of Art, Museum purchase with funds provided by Suzanne Figi and Mrs. Norton S. Walbridge, 2002.1.
Join us for an afternoon with celebrated choreographer Javier Velasco, best known for the expansive range of theatrical style and expression. From pure classical ballets, to Latin American and Jazz fusion pieces, to experimental pieces to spoken word, Velasco creates work that easily shifts from entertaining to thought provoking to simply a celebration of the human body in movement. This program will feature video presentations of San Diego Ballet’s Intaglio installation on display at MOPA@SDMA. A series of short films shot in collaboration with San Diego Museum of Art featuring dancers from San Diego Ballet, music by Gilbert Castellanos and Claude Debussy, and on location throughout the museum. Velasco will reflect on the creation of each work, followed by an informal conversation with the audience and Q&A. This special event offers an opportunity to hear directly from Velasco about the ideas and processes that shaped his pieces.
Director’s Notes:
Normally, when you think of doing a video recording of a dance, you think of it is a very passive experience. But it isn’t. It changes the dance. It flattens it. It forces you to look at the dance from one point of view and one point of view only. This is not necessarily bad thing, but it does change things. That’s one of the reasons I decided to use the word Intaglio to describe this series. In intaglio, you’re actually physically cutting into a surface to leave an impression. And, in many ways, I like that image of something being cut or burned into something else. Much like images of Fred Astaire and Ginger. Rogers are burned into celluloid and our memories. The pieces in this series came out of Covid, and our needs, and the needs of the museum, to keep our audiences invested in the work we do. As a choreographer, people often think that my mind stops working when I leave the studio. Quite the opposite. Whenever I’m in a space, I always think, “Oh I could fit a dance in that corner or on top of that table.” Having visited SDMA in the past, I’d often thought “Oh, a dance could fit on that stone bridge in the sculpture garden.” and “Wouldn’t it be great to dance on the roof and have that wonderful view behind the dancers?” Covid didn’t just give us the opportunity to explore those avenues, but it began a manful relationship between SDMA and SDB. It gives me great pleasure to share those early collaborations again. – Javier Velasco
This event is free to the public. Mention ‘Intaglio’ at the front desk for free admission. Premium seats can be reserved (at no cost) by contacting development@sandiegoballet.org.
Museum of James S Copley Auditorium space, MOPA@SDMA
January 17th @ 2pm
