3 years ago, EMP began choreographing our first in a trilogy of multimedia dance performances inquiring how stereotypical ideas of masculinity affect the way we live.
As with all of our projects, we began the multi-year process of research. We began by studying the masculine stereotype of the rough and tumble Cowboy. Our team watched tons of Westerns (particularly Sergio Leoneand John Ford), learned lonely cowboy ballads, and read the history of Midwestern settlers to the prairie.
In 2012, we traveled to Iceland and studied Viking history, collaborated with a Viking metal band and spoke with Scandinavian economists about the banking collapse both there and in our homeland. From this repeated exercise of pulling back the layers of history to reveal new and different meanings of masculinity, The Cowboys and Vikings Trilogy was born. This series has been performed at venues throughout Chicago including Dance Center Columbia College, Ragdale Spotlight Series, MCA/CDF Breakout and the Chicago Park District.
In two weeks, EMP begins creating the dance film version of this work on the open prairie in Lake Forest. Placing this unique work on the open prairie requires some extra care (and expenses). We have started anIndiegogo Campaign to help us cover costs of a power generator, lighting equipment, back up costumes, film crew and performer compensation.
Any amount can go a long way towards helping us reach our goal!
Please visit
http://igg.me/at/CowboysandVikings/x
to show your support