Song of Cassandra
A multimedia collaboration of Performing Arts Faculties of Bergen Community College and New York University celebrating music, dance and drama based on the Greek legend of Cassandra. Cassandra has been an ongoing project continues to be developed through collaboration over the internet. The collaboration culminates in a unique performance of Song of Cassandra, modernistic impressions of a woman whose myhtical prophetic powers were doomed to be ignored. This production explores perceptions of Cassandra that allow her to emerge as a multifaceted woman, both ancient and modern, who ultimately offers us the power to see within ourselves.
Dinu Ghezzo (NYU), composer and performer was one of the original collaborators in the internet experiments in 1996 which eventually led to Cassandra versions which have been performed as live productions and internet collaborations in Canada, the U.S., and Europe. As a composer, he brings the musical work "Eyes of Cassandra" to the performance, a mixture of ethnic musics which redefines Cassandra and includes samples from the original internet collaborations.
Ken Bonnaffons (BCC) is working to develop dramatic structure from the extremely diverse contributing elements and resources. Musicians will be coming from New York while actors and dancers will be from BCC. The collaborators are striving to achieve an ideal mixture of structure and improvisation as they explore the parameters of the production.
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Ron Mazurek (BCC) has been involved with the Cassandra Project since the beginning of the internet experiments. It is largely through his efforts that the production at BCC has materialized. He will be performing his composition as a live synthesizer work. In his work the imagery of whiteness permeates time and space.
Jared Saltzman (BCC) is designing the lighting for the production. In this production his contribution will also help to create the space and structure for the work. The work exists as an emerging structure in which large segments will be improvised within predetermined structural units. Lighting plays a dynamic role in the work, often forming the full substance of the "set" of the work. Jeoungnam Park (BCC) is the choreographer who will help to integrate the movement of the dancers with the performers. This is a challenging task in an experimental, multimedia work which can invite stylized and natural movement. The dance must play a major role in communicating narrative as well as mood.
Gregg Biermann (BCC) is creating a video environment for the work which can conjur the images of the past as well as explore future meanings of Cassandra. His creation of clips that may be introduced in varying contexts, even triggered by musical events.
John Gilbert (NYU) is a composer who has written an elegy that looks to meld with the essence of Cassandra, providing a sense of her presence even now. He has composed a poem, Song of Casandra that is meant to serve as an inspiration and context for the production.
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