Sound sources and dance combine in “Water Blue”ANN ARBOR—Contemporary dance, sound and visual art join forces in “Water Blue,” an evening of metaphors presented by Ann Arbor Dance Works and University of Michigan dance and music faculty.

Percussionist Michael Gould along with U-M graduate and Japanese choreographer, Ayako Kato, will perform “Water Blue” on Oct. 4 and 5 at the Media Union’s video studio on Bonnisteel Avenue on the University’s North Campus. Both performances begin at 8 p.m. and are free. Seating is limited. Ayako Kato is a dancer, choreographer and founder of the Dance No Mori school in Tokyo. Since returning to Japan in 1998 after MFA studies at U-M, Kato has become one of the most active and unique figures in the Tokyo dance community.

Kato, Gould and Stephen Rush, music director for U-M’s Dance Department, presented “Water Blue” in Tokyo in November of 2000 and now bring this work that portrays the interdependence of plants and water as metaphors for social responsibility and collective emotional responsibility to the U-M campus.

The music for “Water Blue” is scored for controlled feedback, amplified water, sawing and rocks, as well as several other sound sources. The dance is a weaving of Butoh, Noh, Tai Chi and Modern Dance and features Kato, Rachel McInstry and David Knapp.

Choreographer Gay Delanghe contributes “Statues in Motion” to the presentation in a collaboration with U-M scholars James Porter and Patricia Yaeger, sculptor Lee Deigaard, costumer Angela Youells and U-M composer Christian Matjias.

Deigaard, Porter and Yaeger created concept, text and visuals for the work. Matjais wrote an original score. Featured dancers are Mary Farris, Leslie Lamberson, Melissa Mallinson, Beth Wielinski, Michael Woodbury-Means and Angela Youells. Technical support is provided by the U-M Michigan Media.

Funding is provided by the Office of the Vice President for Research.

The combined dance, text, sculpture, media and music project is funded by the U-M Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies as a part of their interdisciplinary summer institute series, which call for unusual partnerships in the creation of original projects.

For more information, call 734-763-5460.