Elevator Project - #DigitalConnection presented by mixamotus

Celebrating local dance, theatre and art in the

Dallas Arts District.

#DigitalConnection Presented by mixtamotus

May 13 - 15, 2021

#DigitalConnection PRE-SHOW SCREEN TIME Scan here or visit https://linktr.ee/mixtamotus for a behind the scenes experience.

<initialize> A film that introduces the creators of mixtamotus—a human digital interface—and portrays a sequential development of the relationship between humans and technology.

<plug-in> mixtamotus seeks connection by traveling inside technology through a matrix of digital memories.

<overload> mixtamotus experiences the effects of doomscrolling system overlead and shutdown. *Doomscrolling is the act of spending an excessive amount of screen time devoted to the absorption of dystopian news. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) *WARNING: strobe lights are used during this performance.

<reboot> mixtamotus learns the possibilities for connection.

POST-SHOW AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT Join the artists of mixtamotus after the show for a Q&A hosted by kNOwBOX dance Dance Behind the Screen podcast Co-Host Azaria Hogans.

ABOUT THE SHOW #DigitalConnection by mixtamotus is a diverse collaborative work that blends dance, music, and technology to create an immersive new media performance. mixtamotus (mm) offers #DigitalConnection as commentary on the importance of human connection, community, and creativity in the digital age. mm acknowledges the impact of the digital age and creates an opportunity to experience and discuss the impact of technology on art, art-making, artists, and our world. Technology creates opportunities for understanding other perspectives.

Through that relationship one is able to imagine new possibilities for the future. Content for this project is sourced from the digital space including Instagram polls, Instagram/Facebook Live conversations, and Instagram Stories ‘Questions’. Originally conceived in a pre-covid world, mixtamotus recognized the impact of technological innovation on fostering and accessing human connection online via the world wide web and social networking platforms as a mode for art making and sharing. Now amidst the world-wide pandemic the relevancy for #DigitalConnection is paramount. Human connection via the digital space is both the subject and object for #DigitalConnection.

WHO’S WHO IN THE SHOW Cast Dancers/Choreographers Reyna Mondragon Martheya Nygaard

Projectionist Joel Olivas

Musician Lucas Reader

Crew Technical Director/VFX Artist Joel Olivas

Sound Design/ Sound Board Operator Lucas Reader

Lighting Designer/Light Board Operator David Ponce

Stage Manager Fabiola Sanchez

Stage Right/Prop Assistant Anthony Otero

Stage Left/Prop Assistant Irving Maldonado

Film Camera Operator Alex Von Kurkendall

Film Gaffer Vince Devaney

Photographer Corey Haynes

Promotional Video Asiyah Martin

Q&A Facilitator Azaria Hogans, kNOwBOX dance

ABOUT THE ARTISTS Reyna Mondragon (mm dancer/choreographer) is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and researcher born in Chihuahua, Mexico. Her work focuses on the multiple ways she can incorporate her cultural heritage and rhythm, kinesthetically, visually, and musically into dance. Mondragon

holds her B.F.A in Dance and minor in Spanish from the University of North Texas and her MFA in Dance from Texas Woman’s University. Her choreographic works have been presented nationally and internationally at Staibb Dance Festival Italy, World Dance Alliance Americas, American College Dance Association, Big Rig Summer Workshop, Arts Nest Minnesota, {254} dance-fest, and Exchange Choreography Festival. Currently, Mondragon is an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Texas. Mondragon is a professional dancer for Jordan Fuchs Company and the President and Managing Director of kNOwBOX dance—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts service organization—where she is the Manager of Development and a Co-Host for Dance Behind the Screen Podcast. @rmondragon0 @knowboxdance

Martheya Nygaard (mm dancer/choreographer) is a dance artist, educator, and content creator cultivating “distortion” as an aesthetic philosophy, challenging and expanding notions of contemporary dance, by creating dance resources and content for both on and offline. She received her BFA in Dance from Sam Houston State University and MFA in Dance from Texas Woman’s University (TWU). At TWU Martheya was awarded the Graduate Teaching Assistant Award of Excellence, Dance Department- Aileen Lockhart Endowed Scholarship, and Adrienne Fisk Outstanding Service Award. She has been on Faculty as an Adjunct Professor of Dance for TWU, Eastfield College, and Tarrant County College. Martheya worked as the Publicity Manager for the TWU Department of Dance and is a freelance graphic and web designer. Her work has been presented nationally and internationally at venues including World Dance Alliance Global Summit in Canada, The Prague Quadrennial in Prague, and The Women in Dance Leadership Conference in Philadelphia. Currently, Martheya is a professional dancer with Jordan Fuchs Company, and the President and Managing Director of kNOwBOX dance—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts service organization—which she Co-Created in 2018. Martheya guides the vision and growth for kNOwBOX dance programming including the kNOwBOX dance Film Festival and Dance Behind the Screen podcast.

She has articles in Dance Education In Practice (forthcoming) and the Journal of Dance Education. @martheya_nygaard @knowboxdance

Joel Olivas (mm vfx artist/projectionist) is a new-media artist from El Paso, Texas. Joel’s passion for technology and music has led him into a creative niche in the performing arts. He aims to create performer-specific works that interact and manipulate the digital, social, and auditory environments in which they preside. His visual work has been exhibited at festivals in Texas including; SOLUNA Festival, Oaktopia, SXSW, and Aurora Light & Sound Biennial. He is a recipient of the TACA New Works Grant with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. As a projectionist and VJ, he thrived in corporate events and concerts, working for top venues in Dallas including The Dallas Omni Hotel and The Bomb Factory.

In response to the pandemic, his efforts shifted to help develop a performing-arts drive-in theatre, the Tin Star Theatre. He holds a B.A.S. in Digital Signal Processing and Music from the University of North Texas. @yo_el_o

Lucas Reader (mm composer/musician) is a Dallas based musician from Houston, Texas. He began playing bass with his family at a young age and quickly became involved in professional musical projects. In 2016, Lucas received a B.A. in Jazz Performance from the University of North Texas. Creatively, he has played the role of performer, arranger, composer, engineer, musical director and producer.

Mixtamotus has given Lucas the opportunity and challenge to play each of these roles simultaneously. As a music producer, his signature style blends together pre-made sounds to create new harmonies and rhythms.

Like a patchwork quilt, his beats stitch together not only his favorite vinyl records, but also everyday sounds like ringtones and alarm clocks. He uses his Akai MPC Live (Music Production Center) to sample records, compose music and perform live using sampling techniques from artists like Kanye West, Otis Jackson Jr. and James D. Yancey. @lucasxreader

THE COLLABORATORS @digital.gardenz @pinkcords @asiyahmartin_ @fabiolahsanchez David Ponce: @irvduardo @azariarianne

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AT&T Performing Arts Center kNOwBOX dance Pearberry Coffee Red Tail Entertainment Texas Woman’s University Department of Dance Tin Star Theater Dayna Morgan Ballenger Carmen Menza Jordan Fuchs Nolan McGahan

Special Thanks to everyone who participated in the crowdsourcing portion of this project online.

Connect with us online for our next iterations of #DigitalConnection at the Tin Star Theater and a “choose your own adventure” component accessible online.

mixtamotus.com | @mixtamotus mixtamotus | #DigitalConnection_2021

GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM