Birdhouse dance project takes flight again

Author: May Chan

This Friday and Saturday, the Middlebury Dance program will bring a treat to kick off your weekend. "The Birdhouse Project", a performance directed by Andrea Olsen, Middlebury College professor of Dance, celebrates the 40th anniversary of Middlebury College's Environmental Studies Program and raises the climate issues of our time in a colorful, light-hearted approach. "The Birdhouse Project" is just one of many events that are part of the Nicholas R. Clifford Symposium on "Renewel: Perspectives and possibilities in an age of climate crisis."

This will be the third performance of the project. Last spring, the group performed at the Middlebury Center for the Arts (CFA) and in New York City's Stuyvesant Cove Park in June, attracting large and enthusiastic crowds. This time, the performances will come to life in front of John McCardell Jr. Bicentennial Hall. The project will include music from David Rothenberg and feature bird calls and birdhouses designed by visual artist Carl Phelps. Over 20 faculty members, plus 20 students and dance alumni will take part in this 50-minute flight of fancy.

Olsen, the director of "The Birdhouse Project," revealed that the idea came out of the desire to teach courses linking environmental studies to dance. "I like to encourage students to travel, to go out and dance on the land," she said in an interview with The Middlebury Campus. Olsen has taught at Middlebury College for 23 years, directed over 50 dances, written two books and numerous articles and adores the art of travel. And indeed, there will be a lot of traveling in the "The Birdhouse Project."

The pieces will begin at the side entrance of John McCardell Jr. Bicentennial Hall, migrate to the "Smog" and finish to face the quad. The audience must move as well to follow the bright, whimsical costumes of Middlebury's talented dancers.

"My real pleasure is that movement appears as part of the landscape. I encourage people to move on the landscape," said Olsen. There will be a blend of styles and the majority of the work will be created by the dancers themselves. Two of the lead dancers include Ben Brouwer '04, founder of Middlebury's Yellow Bike Project in 2002 and Lisa Gonzales '94, who previously taught at Middlebury. The performances will be an aesthetic mélange of ballet styles, contemporary dance and even a bit of break-dancing, performed by Ryan Johnson '06, who brings an urban perspective to the project.

The Clifford Symposium explores the effects of climate change, and "The Birdhouse Project" illustrates this goal in a poetic way, engaging the public community in movement and appreciation for the landscape and birds. "Dancing outdoors is challenging - there's so much to be aware of, including the ground beneath your feet, and the sounds all around you..." Olsen said. While "The Birdhouse Project" will undoubtedly bring attention to local as well as to global issues, it also promises to be an intelligent and entertaining show with a touch of playfulness.

"The Birdhouse Project" will be shown on Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m. and Sept 24 at 12 p.m. at John McCardell Jr. Bicentennial Hall.