If you have reached this post in error, please view the project DANSE magnet.

Below is a list of influences that informed and inspired the project, DANSE magnet. I share this with you in hope that it may give more of an understanding to what generated this idea, and you might find something here that inspires something for you. If you have any connecting threads, tangents, ideas or thoughts to add – leave them in a comment. I look forward to talking more about this topic.

sound artists
architecture in Helsinki – heart it races
When I first saw this video I was like – yes, this is what I’m talking about. Gathering people to just sing and enjoy music. I LOVE this blog, as well – http://www.blogotheque.net/ - more about them further down!

animal collective
for their organic nature – sound initiatives. A friend of mine gave me this cd last year some time and at first I didn’t get it, but I tried again and it resonated with me strongly. This bands approach to sound and experiment greatly inspires me to push myself out of the protective containers I like to fit myself into. This is also a reason DANSE magnet is so essential to activate – I need to push myself out.

fela kuti
This guy is amazing. He’s Nigerian and he’s very popular there and amongst African communities. A friend from Martinique turned me on to him and I ran into him soon after when I was doing research on Cream’s drummer – Ginger Baker (insane guy!). *If you’re a music person I’d love to talk to you about Cream – seriously.

cultures
Brazil, Nigeria, Senegal, Martinique, and Jamaica.
There isn’t much to expand upon by mentioning these cultures, but I wanted to just show where I am coming from geographically and socially when I talk and perform this piece. It’s from these cultures (but not limited to) that I derive the spirit of this piece. I find that in latin and african cultures persons are more inclined to external forms of expression and I feel very comfortable amongst these cultures, they balance my anglo-cool-calm-and-collected hibernation tendencies nicely. 

music
Calypso, Black Marching Bands & stomp troops, street performers, and drums, drums, drums!!!!
The feel of this piece is to be moved by music to dance and to really feel the music, and I believe drums and percussion hold this energy – but of course not all of it.

fantasy/reality
musicals
There is a sort of fantasy musical element to DANSE magnet. I’m actually not into musicals because I could never understand if they were to be taken literally or not. My common response being ”people don’t do that in real life” and secretly - ”but I wish they did.”

artistic references
Allan Kaprow & fluxus
Kaprow is the grandaddy of “happenings”. I’ll let your research give you more accurate information, but of course i could not go into this project without looking at this form of artistic expression. The same can be said for Fluxus.

Improv Everywhere
An anthropologist friend of mine turned me on to this group after I explained my thesis interests to her. I had no idea how similar and fitting it was for DANSE magnet. They are a really cool team of people and I would LOVE to start a dialogue with them. I’ve sent them information through their blog, so I hope to hear from them.
[http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dkYZ6rbPU2M]

anne cremieux
A friend of mine who will record this performance.

La Blogotheque
This blog is awesome – they are really more than a blog. They are a sort of gathering spot for new and underground musicians. They record these musicians performing in the streets or in public and post them on the blog. They’ve got tons of stuff on youtube – I first came upon them through checking out the band Beirut. They’ve done some really read stuff with them. I think they are based in Paris.

TANGENTS
prom danse, organized danse, celebratory danse
Just trying to think about forms of dance that are juxtaposed to the organic and freestyle functions of DANSE magnet. I’m not sure what to do with this connection, but I thought it was important to note.

Okay, if you’re still reading – *high five. you deserve a cookie. Leave a comment and I’ll give you a cookie. come on, you know you want a cookie!