Chris Elam
Encyclopedia
Chris Elam is the artistic director and choreographer of Misnomer dance theater
. He graduated from Brown University
and received his MFA in dance from NYU Tisch. He has been on faculty at Brown University and The State Conservatory for the Arts in Turkey, and has served as guest choreographer at eight universities. Chris Elam’s study of traditional dances informs the technical and conceptual complexity of his contemporary choreography.
In 1999 Chris spent seven months with a Topeng dance master in Indonesia, training and performing in temple ceremonies. Misnomer accompanied him to Brazil in 2001 to perform and teach. The following year, Chris taught for six months at the Conservatory in Turkey; and in 2004 he spent three months in Havana choreographing on DanzAbierta, a national dance company of Cuba. In 2005 he performed in Ireland on a European Cultural City Commission, which led to a commission in Holland in 2006 with the interactive technology group Blue Noise Dept.
He creates work about human relationships from a cross-cultural and international perspective. His production "Throw People / Land Flat" was well reviewed by The New York Times
; and both earned Misnomer a position as one of "25 to Watch" for 2007 in Dance Magazine
and a fellowship from the Baryshnikov Dance Foundation. Elam’s choreography has been performed in over 120 theatres in the USA, Indonesia, Turkey, Cuba, Ireland, Brazil, France, and the Ukraine.
In addition to stage choreography, Chris Elam has conducted numerous interdisciplinary projects and collaborations. In 2005, Elam was featured by an Apple Computers “Pro” documentary with Tronic Studios detailing their collaboration using motion-capture technology to digitize human motion. In August 2007, Elam and his dancers worked closely with Bjork
to choreograph her newest music video, "Wanderlust
". In 2008, Elam will choreograph a dance film directed by Joss Whedon
(creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
, FireFly
and Serenity
), in which he will also performed as the male lead. He also is currently created a new dance for the Danish Dance Theatre’s 10-dancer company for a four-week première in Copenhagen in May 2008; the piece, which will take place simultaneously on four stages and will be housed in a giant labyrinth, through which the audience had the possibility to walks.
Chris Elam is an advocate of dance and theater companies in general and has spent considerable time developing digital tools that arts groups can use to expand their on-line presence and audience outreach. As part of this initiative, Misnomer is collaborating with film directors to create online videos that transcend the fields of film and dance. Misnomer’s on-line activities were featured in an interview by Business Week Magazine and in an article in the Business Section of the New York Times. Chris Elam is often asked to speak or give workshops about the Misnomer’s choreography, film collaborations, inter-cultural collaborations, and on-line web development and to lecture, most recently at Brown University's speaker series, as a social entrepreneur in the arts.
Misnomer dance theater
Misnomer Dance Theater is a modern dance company based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 1998 by Artistic Director and choreographer Chris Elam, Misnomer Dance Theater celebrates the nuances of human communication, including the tenderness, humor, and absurdity that characterize our day-to-day...
. He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and received his MFA in dance from NYU Tisch. He has been on faculty at Brown University and The State Conservatory for the Arts in Turkey, and has served as guest choreographer at eight universities. Chris Elam’s study of traditional dances informs the technical and conceptual complexity of his contemporary choreography.
In 1999 Chris spent seven months with a Topeng dance master in Indonesia, training and performing in temple ceremonies. Misnomer accompanied him to Brazil in 2001 to perform and teach. The following year, Chris taught for six months at the Conservatory in Turkey; and in 2004 he spent three months in Havana choreographing on DanzAbierta, a national dance company of Cuba. In 2005 he performed in Ireland on a European Cultural City Commission, which led to a commission in Holland in 2006 with the interactive technology group Blue Noise Dept.
He creates work about human relationships from a cross-cultural and international perspective. His production "Throw People / Land Flat" was well reviewed by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
; and both earned Misnomer a position as one of "25 to Watch" for 2007 in Dance Magazine
Dance Magazine
Dance Magazine is an "influential" American trade publication for dance, currently published by the Macfadden Communications Group. It was first published in June 1927 as The American Dancer. William Como was its editor-in-chief from 1970 to his death in 1989. Wendy Perron became its editor-in...
and a fellowship from the Baryshnikov Dance Foundation. Elam’s choreography has been performed in over 120 theatres in the USA, Indonesia, Turkey, Cuba, Ireland, Brazil, France, and the Ukraine.
In addition to stage choreography, Chris Elam has conducted numerous interdisciplinary projects and collaborations. In 2005, Elam was featured by an Apple Computers “Pro” documentary with Tronic Studios detailing their collaboration using motion-capture technology to digitize human motion. In August 2007, Elam and his dancers worked closely with Bjork
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
to choreograph her newest music video, "Wanderlust
Wanderlust (Björk song)
"Wanderlust" is a song written and recorded by Icelandic singer Björk. The track was released digitally as the fourth single from her seventh full-length studio album, Volta, on 7 April 2008.White labels of the single were issued in February 2008...
". In 2008, Elam will choreograph a dance film directed by Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
(creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an American television series that aired from March 10, 1997, until May 20, 2003. The series was created in 1997 by writer-director Joss Whedon under his production tag, Mutant Enemy Productions with later co-executive producers being Jane Espenson, David Fury, David...
, FireFly
Firefly (TV series)
Firefly is an American space western television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon, under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. Whedon served as executive producer, along with Tim Minear....
and Serenity
Serenity (film)
Serenity is a 2005 space western film written and directed by Joss Whedon. It is a continuation of the short-lived 2002 Fox science fiction television series Firefly, taking place after the events of the final episode. Set in 2518, Serenity is the story of the captain and crew of a cargo ship...
), in which he will also performed as the male lead. He also is currently created a new dance for the Danish Dance Theatre’s 10-dancer company for a four-week première in Copenhagen in May 2008; the piece, which will take place simultaneously on four stages and will be housed in a giant labyrinth, through which the audience had the possibility to walks.
Chris Elam is an advocate of dance and theater companies in general and has spent considerable time developing digital tools that arts groups can use to expand their on-line presence and audience outreach. As part of this initiative, Misnomer is collaborating with film directors to create online videos that transcend the fields of film and dance. Misnomer’s on-line activities were featured in an interview by Business Week Magazine and in an article in the Business Section of the New York Times. Chris Elam is often asked to speak or give workshops about the Misnomer’s choreography, film collaborations, inter-cultural collaborations, and on-line web development and to lecture, most recently at Brown University's speaker series, as a social entrepreneur in the arts.
External links
- Chris Elam’s interview on Sundance Channel
- A Radical Experiment, Chris Elam, Misnomer Dance Theater