Abstract

The Report (2011) based on Franz Kafka’s "Ein Bericht für eine Akademie", utilizes both the original German text as well as Marc Diamond’s English adaptation “A Report To The Academy”. Kafka’s report is about an ape that is captured by a hunting party somewhere in Africa and brought to Europe. After what appears to be a very successful transformation to human-likeness, the ape/human is called to a defense of his accomplishments by a scientific committee. Daniel’s choreography builds on Kafka’s mischievous commentary on the state of knowledge by adding another layer to the story; the contentious relationship that exists between the dance academy and the academic research community. With the growing presence of practice-as-research or research/creation as an emergent mode within the academic world, and the number of research projects involving professional dance companies operating outside of the university, some interesting debates are emerging with regard to the future of dance in general and it’s place in the University in particular. Utilizing a mix of classical and contemporary movement vocabularies as well as everyday gestures, ‘The Report’ acts as a ‘position paper’ for these emerging debates.

The report…reproduced (2016) revisits this same concept.

Collaborators

Choreography and Direction - Henry Daniel
Text - Franz Kafka
English translation by Marc Diamond
Composer/Electronics - Gene Pritsker
Violin - Peter Krysa
Actor - Vic Ustare
Dancers - Thoenn Glover, Samantha-Jane Gray, Caitlin Griffin
German speakers - Ursula Baer, Andrea Dahlmann-Resing, Christine Spreter von Kreudenstein

Henry Daniel - Principal Investigator & choreographer

Composer/guitarist Gene Pritsker has written over three hundred ninety compositions, all employing an eclectic spectrum of styles influenced by his studies of various musical cultures. Gene’s music has been performed internationally. The New York Times described him as "...audacious...multitalented.” All About Jazz writes: “Much of 21st century composition appears to be thinning in significance, but this might be about to change. Gene Pritsker is one of a very spare handful of composers effecting this change.”

Violinist Peter Krysa has performed solo, chamber, and contemporary music recitals in Canada, the United States and Europe in major concert halls such as Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Wigmore Hall and the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory. As a soloist, he has performed with Yuri Bashmet’s Moscow Soloists, National Orchestra of Ukraine, Kiev Chamber Orchestra, Lviv Philharmonic, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Bachanalia Chamber Orchestra, and the St. Thomas Orchestra. Peter is a member of Vancouver Opera Orchestra.

Victor Ustare is a Vancouver-based actor, theatre maker, and drama instructor with Carousel Theatre and at SFU where he received his BFA.

Thoenn Glover completed her professional training at Arts Umbrella under direction of Artemis Gordon.  Since then she has danced with local choreographers and companies Vancouver City Dance Theatre, Mascall Dance, Henry Daniel, Vertical Landing, Donald Sales and Myriad Dance Projects. She is thrilled to be a part of this beautiful city and its dance community.

Samantha-Jane Gray is a Vancouver-based freelance artist. After graduating from Arts Umbrella has danced in a collaboration with Ballet BC, with Joe Ink, and is currently a member of Vancouver City Dance Theatre. She performed with Henry Daniel in 'Imprint II' in June 2010 and is honored to extend this working relationship on The Report.

Caitlin Griffin is a ballet and contemporary dancer and a graduate of the Goh Ballet Academy. She has performed with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Move: the Company and Toronto’s OMO Modern Dance Company, danced in the Sony Pictures feature film ‘Centre Stage: Turn it Up’ and was featured in the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Jean Grand-Maitre's Sacred Grove.  She is also an emerging choreographer.

Ursula Baer is pursuing a doctorate in German Language and Literature at the University of British Columbia. She holds a Licentiata Philosophiae, lic. phil. l in Sociology from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Her research straddles both literary analysis and sociology.

Andrea Dahlmann-Resing studied in Heidelberg, Berlin, and Reykjavík and taught German as a Foreign Language in Berlin and Shah Alam. She holds a M.A. in Sociology and German Literature from the Technical University in Berlin and currently pursues her doctoral degree at the German department of UBC.

Christine Spreter von Kreudenstein is a cultural ambassador through German and English Second Language teaching at various locations in Vancouver. M.A. in German and English Studies, accredited high-school teacher in Germany, additional work experience in PR, journalism, and broadcast in Germany, the US and Canada.

This performance is made possible with the assistance of a SSHRC Small Institutional Grant (SIG) from the office of the VP Research Simon Fraser University, the School for the Contemporary Arts, and Full Performing Bodies.