Capturing the Dance: Producing the Live Dance Performance of \u27128\u27 For Video

This paper is a companion to the video presentation of Shari and Ben Schwendener’s dance suite, “128” and a reflection of the production processes involved in capturing the live performance. I have used the three production phases, pre-production, production and post-production, to organize my paper. My style is narrative with diary-like sections added to give the sequential order of events the importance they deserve. This paper is not a “how-to” manual for this type of television production; it is a guide through the complicated decision making processes involved in this type of creative endeavor. It is my desire to have the reader benefit from my experiences before starting their own arts option synthesis project. When I entered the CCT program I was curious about studying thinking and what this meant. I wondered what enlightenments awaited me. Through the years of study I learned how to take advantage of my meta-cognitive abilities. As a teacher I ask my students to understand their own abilities and take fullest advantage of them. CCT gives me the skills to do just this. Being aware of my thinking allows me to be more creative and a better problem solver because I am more aware of my mental processes involved in these tasks. This translates directly to my work as a television producer and director