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The History of TRIAD
The history of the TRIAD Project goes back to 1998, when Sita Popat (UK) chose to study for a PhD
in interactive dance-making on the Internet. At around the same time, she and Jeff Miller (USA) met on the Dance and Technology
Listserv and decided to work together. This was the very beginning of Satorimedia LLC the company co-ordinating the TRIAD
Project.
As part of her research, Sita went on to develop the Hands-On Dance Project [link to Hands-On], which invites
participants on the Internet to take part in choreographic projects via email, Web site and Internet videoconferencing. She
ran three of these projects over 1999-2000, arousing a great deal of interest and enthusiasm in the arts and technology community
and on a wider scale.
In the summer of 2000, Sita was working with Eddie Copp and Claire Nicholson (UK), and their
company, Momentum Youth Dance. Eddie suggested the possibility of applying the Hands-On Dance Project model in the educational
arena, with Momentum. Sita and Jeff decided to take up the challenge as a Satorimedia project. At the same time, Sita was
teaching Stephan Juergens (Portugal) on the MA course at Bretton Hall College. Sita asked Stephan to bring his group of dancers
into the Project, and Jeff made arrangements with the USA group.
In this way, the TRIAD Project was born, as an
extension of the Hands-On Dance Project, designed to bring the three groups of young dancers together from across the Atlantic
in the act of creating and performing dance via the Internet.
How does TRIAD work?
TRIAD is a collaborative
project, in which the three groups develop the theme, choreography and performance together. They communicate via the Web
site and Bulletin Board, showing movies of their rehearsals, discussing ideas and problems, and giving each other positive
feedback, guided by their group leaders. They also meet on-line for videoconference rehearsals.
The performance
took place simultaneously in all three countries. In each country, the live group performed on stage, with the other two groups
projected onto screens around them. Some of the performance involved live Internet videoconference link-up, while some were
done using pre-recorded video.
Each group led the choreography for one section (three sections in total).
There
was a short final section performed via live internet link-up via iVisit videoconferencing software, choreographed by Sita.
The People Behind TRIAD
Sita Popat
Eddie Copp
Claire Nicholson
Stephan Juergens
Jeffrey Gray Miller
Kristina Miller
Sita Popat is co-director of satorimedia LLC, and she is in the final year of study for her
PhD in dance and Internet choreography at Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds. She lectures and leads workshops on dance
and technology at Bretton Hall College and freelance. She is also Dance Curriculum Advisor for the UK Government research
project, Notschool.net.
Her past experience includes working for the Education Department of The Royal Ballet.
Sita returned to study after having her two sons, and achieved a first class honours degree in dance at University of Leeds.
Her final year choreography, Little Angels, was chosen and filmed for BBC Television's Talent 2000 programme, which showcased
outstanding works by student choreographers.
Sita's interest in dance and technology came about as a result of
a back injury at college. She now choreographs and performs dance using a variety of technological media, and co-ordinates
major dance projects on the Internet. Her recent works includes the Hands-On Dance Project, a series of interactive choreography
projects on the Web. Her work with the motion-sensing performance system MvM has been featured on BBC and Sky television.
Sita enjoys spending what little spare time she has with her family and her cats.
Eddie Copp performed and choreographed
professionally in a number of Belgium dance companies including Royal Ballet de Wallonie, Charleroi Dances and Plan K. He
worked for a number of top international choreographers including Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Lucinda Childs, and Karole
Armitage. On his return to England Eddie danced for Janet Smith and Dancers, Emilyn Claid, BBC Television and Sky Television.
Eddie gained his degree in Dance at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds. As well as running Momentum Youth Dance
Company, Eddie is also Head of Dance at Airedale High School, Castleford and Artistic Director of 'The Arts Centre' in Castleford.
Claire Nicholson trained at Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds gaining a BA(Hons)Dance. She has trained
in Contemporary, Ballet and Jazz techniques with tutors including Janet Smith and Graciella Kaplin (Principal Dancer with
Northern Ballet Theatre). Claire's performance experience includes a number of British dance companies -Janet Smith and Dancers
(National Tour), Assault Event Company, Emma Diamond Dance Company, Tred Dance Theatre, BBC Television and Sky Television.
Alongside working for Momentum Youth Dance Company, Claire runs a professional Dance and Fashion Show company and works freelance
as a choreographer, dancer and teacher.
Stephan Juergens was born 12 April 1964 in Germany. He studied Dance at
North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA) in the U.S. and European Dance Develpopment Centre (EDDC) in the Netherlands. Stephan
has worked with Trish Casey, Diane Markham, Rendy Warshaw at NCSA. He was also a professional dancer with Cathy Weiss (NY),
Paula Massano (P), Madalena Victorino (P) and Tony Tavares (P). Currently, Stephan teaches Dance at St. Julians School and
the Academia de Almada and Performance Art at ESTGAD, an Arts College at Caldas de Rainha, in the North of Lisbon. He has
choreographed four pieces, and his next production premiers in March 2002 in Lisbon.
Jeffrey Gray Miller earned
a bachelor's degree in Dance Interarts and Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1999 with the help of his
four daughters Ashlei, Sabrina, Danica, and Danielle (all now TRIADancers). In 1998 he began collaborating with Sita Popat,
exploring the role of technology in the dance and especially the idea of being a dancer and a parent. He has worked with the
Goldhuber-Latsky Dance Company in New York, as well as Li Chiao Ping Dance, Douglas Rosenberg, Jin-Wen Yu, Peggy Choy, A.J.
Niehaus, and the Madison Area Jugglers. He also works as a professional multimedia designer with clients such as the author
Barbara Sher, PBS' Dance in America, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene. Currently Jeff teaches,
performs, and designs in Madison with his fiancee, the sculptor Jennifer Taylor, his four daughters, and three cats. Aside
from the TRIAD project he is also working with Sita on a trio-via-internet, Pax Excelsis, based on the sculpture "The
Ecstasy of St. Theresa."
Kristina Miller has been dancing since she heard her grandfather's recording of the
Sugar Plum Fairy at age 4. Following in her brother Jeff's footsteps, she began formal training 13 years ago, focusing on
choreography and teaching. With an emphasis on ballet with unusual themes(such as the "Star Wars" ballet and a pointe
number to the music of 9 Inch Nails) Ti has continued to expand her dance knowledge, incorporating and teaching many styles.
Currently teaching with the Madison School Community Recreation department, Ti lives near Madison with her husband Jeff Duchrow
and two rats. Aside from the TRIAD project, she is continuing to develop pointe choreography that focuses on strength and
intensity and less on pure technique or romantic themes.
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