Forward Thinking

Because pulling together an entire evening of dances is much more involved than the usual one work in a concert that is shared, I've been making myself think forward. Places I am focusing my attention:

1. Costuming - I have two dances with 10+ people, a duet and a sextet... costuming is going to cost some serious money and it's not something I want to wait until the last minute to do. My goal is to have clear ideas before my thesis committee showing on December 6. I am more clear on costumes with some pieces than others. I'm also struggling with how to costume male dancers!
2. Show order - This is something I've been thinking about since the beginning and I believe is an important aspect of a concert. The order and flow of dances can make a huge impact on an audience member's experience. In my head, the "Lights" dance (which is now 1/2 of my concert and includes "Tap/Contemp" and "Sensors") was opening the concert and then would follow by "Communication Duet", "Ism", and "Habits". I'm realizing a flaw in this - Communication is going to require some clean up afterward, but it is not a concert-ending dance. My new idea is this:
1. Habit of Change (Strong, dynamic, entertaining - my favorite dance I've choreographed)
2. Ism (also strong and dynamic, but serious - will juxtapose with Habits)
3. Communication (social - very different from the other two - much more use of technology and concept)
4. INTERMISSION/Clean up
5. Lights (ends with my solo) - wide range of dynamics, technology, lights, numbers of bodies
3. Technology - There are three moments where technology is more present. 
1. Communication duet - I've filmed the beginning section of the piece with my dancers. We went to the Greensboro Bicentennial Gardens last weekend and I think we got some really interesting material. This will juxtapose nicely with other sections of the dance and I'm at the early stages of editing/choreographing that section.
2. Tap/Contemp - I have a video shoot scheduled for Sunday morning. Melissa Pihos will be on set to lend a hand as a videographer so that I can be sure to get enough material and it will be nice to have a second perspective from a colleague. You can see some of my ideas on a previous posting (youtube video).
3. Sensors - Ned is working on programming now! All the sensors (we think) we need are in and we are meeting Saturday to check in and see where we stand.