University of Michigan News Service – UM News

Celebrating in the Heathdale

ANN ARBOR—To celebrate the beauty of the landscape and the transformation of the Nichols Arboretum‘s Heathdale, the University of Michigan will host a free celebration June 6-8 featuring original music and dance inspired by this spot of nature in the heart of the University’s Ann Arbor campus.

For several years Arboretum (Arb) staff and volunteers from both the University and Ann Arbor community have worked to transform the Heathdale into its present condition. In
“The name ‘Heathdale’ was given to this narrow valley of the Arboretum in the 1920s,” says Arb Director Bob Grese. “That was after expeditions were made to the southern Appalachians for various plants of the ‘heath’ or ericaceous family to add to the collections of Nichols Arboretum. The heath family includes such popular landscape plants as rhododendron and azaleas, mountain laurel, dog-hobble, blueberry, and sourwood.”

During the celebration U-M Prof. Jessica Fogel will lead a group of dancers in an exploration of the texture and unique terrain of the Heathdale that resembles the narrow coves or “hollers” found in the Appalachian Mountains. The dances will feature clogging in respect for the many Appalachian plants found there.

Percussionists, led by Assistant Professor Michael Gould, will perform using percussion instruments that include pieces of wood, spoons, washboards, shovels and drums. They will also use natural materials found within the Arb as instruments and inspiration. Michael “Chikuzen” Gould, playing shakuhachi flute, will accompany the percussion quartet, and Greg Laman‘s recording of sounds found within the Arb.

Laman’s work involves 10 small, battery-powered speakers hidden in the vegetation at locations in the Heathdale where different parts of the dance performance will take place. The sounds played as an accompaniment for the percussion quartet and shakuhachi will include material developed from sounds recorded in the Arboretum (rain, wind, insects, birds, fire) and sounds of percussion instruments (music boxes, gongs, wind chimes, bells).

A team of volunteers who have been involved in the restoration work, will also participate in the performance.

This multilayer celebration is June 6, 7, and 8 (rain dates June 9 and 10) beginning at 7 p.m. at the Washington Heights entrance to the Arboretum. Visitors are encouraged to bring a chair, dress for the weather, and arrive early as seating will be limited. For more information visit the Arb’s web page at http://www.umich.edu/~wwwarb/.

This production is made possible by the Ford Motor Company.