From an Island Summer

Abstract: 'From an Island Summer' was created by choreographer Karole Armitage and video artist Charles Atlas. In 'From an Island Summer' Armitage and two other dancers perform her upbeat movements in two distinct sections. The first, dated August 27, 1983, takes place at Coney Island, at the beach and in front of refreshment stands advertising shish kebab and pizza. The reactions of passersby are incorporated, including those of a young man and a woman who are in fact intentional performers in the video. The dancers are seen on a circular ride at the amusement park. In the second part of the work, dated August 25, 1983, the performers are seen working in a rehearsal studio. The dancers take to the streets and are seen performing in front of a movie theater and at Times Square in New York City. The same man and woman who appeared in the Coney Island segment are amid the crowd. In both segments, the wandering eye of the camera rests on street texts in the form of advertisements and newspaper headlines. Armitage's movement style incorporates punkish elements and classic ballet-like legwork. Produced and directed by Charles Atlas.Music for the Coney Island section is 'Ven Y Baila Mi Son' by Henry Fiol. The second section is accompanied by experimental classical-style music entitled 'We'll Be There' by Rabbie Burnsmith and his Ticket Toots. Producer Susan Dowling incorporated the Coney Island section of 'From an Island Summer' as a segment in the 'Alive From Off Center' show 'Summer Dances.' Dowling later included a longer segment of this same section in 'Solos, Duets, and Pizza,' a work that was also broadcast as an episode of the PBS series 'Alive from Off Center,' and on Channel 4 in the U.K. Copyright: Karole Armitage and Charles Atlas.

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