Chicago-based Mad Shak Dance Company will give its only Ohio show of this year at Ohio State.
“The Ribbon Factory” involves several people with OSU ties, including the company’s founder and choreographer, Molly Shanahan. Shanahan received her master’s of fine arts in dance from OSU in 1992.
Craig Brant is a senior in dance and is also a member of the company. He brought the group here as part of his senior project to complete his bachelor’s of fine arts in the area of production. He said he wanted to finish his project and still be involved in this performance, and the dance company allowed him to do that.
Shanahan said the performance will be accompanied by an original score by Mad Shak composer Kevin O’Donnell and also a full-length video. She said the video is comprised of rehearsal segments that will serve as a working backdrop to the movements the dancers will perform. The show will last one hour with no intermission, Brant said.
It is hard to describe “The Ribbon Factory” because the performance is not narrative or literal, Brant said.
“It is dance for the sake of dance,” Brant said. “I am drawn to it.”
Shanahan’s interest in the looking beyond the body and its form is reflected in her work. In “The Ribbon Factory,” Shanahan said the body is treated as a source of energy instead of a shape.
” ‘The Ribbon Factory’ is based on the idea, a movement concept, that minute connections can create infinite connections in space,” Shanahan said.
The dance style used by Mad Shak is contemporary style and is very physical, Shanahan said.
“It deals with the body’s physical and spatial connection, treating the body like a fluid machine,” Shanahan said. “(It is) a unique abstract piece that deals with connections through energy and space.”
Both Brant and Shanahan agree the dancers are an intricate part of the choreographic process and are the main inspiration for the show. Brandt said Shanahan develops “base phrases” and then the dancers manipulate the poses. He said it is about movement and invention.
Shanahan said the dancers work collaboratively with her to discover the possibilities for movement that the body holds and not being limited.
“I look at the infinite expression of the body and encourage the dancers to do the same,” Shanahan said.
“The Ribbon Factory” will take place at 8 p.m. tonight through Saturday in Sullivant Theatre at 1813 N. High St. Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for faculty and staff and $5 for OSU students. For more information, contact the department of dance at 292-7977.
