Artist Bio

FACT/SF

The Consumption Series (2010, Adapted for the stage 2011)
Presented by FACT/SF

The Consumption Series is a four-part investigation and performance project conceived by Artistic Director, Charles Slender, which challenges the relationships between individuals, the things they consume, and the things they are consumed by. The work investigates ideas and acts of ‘consumption’ by viewing it in four distinct contexts: emotionally consuming hysteria, the consumption of material goods, consumptive diseases (tuberculosis, HIV, stomach cancer), and the consumption of food. Each section of the work is approached from a unique perspective. Regarding consumptive diseases, for instance, we are interested in the biological ways these diseases invade, destroy, consume, etc., the body. We focus primarily on the molecular and cellular aspects of the diseases- -not on the social or political issues surrounding them. For the fourth section (about the consumption of food) the simple question is: "When eating a hamburger, at what point does the hamburger cease to exist and, instead, become part of the person eating it?" This question also points towards the greater inquiry of the entire work: "At what point in life (or discourse) does ones identity emerge and, when identity begins to shift, how/ when do we know that the shift has been completed?" Who are we and how do/did we get there? These questions and approach to the work figures people as both consumers and consumables as part of ever shifting contexts.

The work is familiar, yet entirely new. It is compiles two years worth of raw material and presents it in a context and aesthetic informed by postmodern dance- theatre, German Expressionism and contemporary ballet. The Consumption Series premiered May 6-8 and 13-15, 2010 at (the now closed) Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory. Originally performed by FACT/SF company members Justin Andrews, Erin Kraemer, Catherine Newman, and Charles Slender, the piece features costumes by Melissa Castaneda and music by Frédéric Chopin, Arvo Pärt, Dandy Warhols, Lady Gaga, Aphex Twin, and Frog Pocket.

Of the performances, Ariel Soto of the San Francisco Bay Guardian wrote, "Sometimes the dancers are sexy, flirting with themselves in a huge floor length mirror. Sometimes they are vicious, devouring whole tangerines and spitting them out. Sometimes they are bizarre, dancing with buckets on their heads and cradling huge headless plastic dolls in their arms. You never know what’s coming next, but you know it’s going to be interesting and beautiful." Claudia Bauer, contributor to the East Bay Express concurred in writing, "A star is rising in the firmament of contemporary dance: choreographer and dancer Charles Slender." The entire project, which began in summer 2008, has been supported by individual and in-kind donations, a DIY Residency at MCVF, two residencies at The Garage, generous support from both the Zellerbach Family Foundation and Theatre Bay Area/Dancers’ Group CA$H Grants, and has additionally included a 173 location tour to every Wal-Mart in California.

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Charles Slender (Artistic Director) has performed, made choreography, and taught in the United States, Russia, Hong Kong, Poland, Latvia, Mexico, and France. His choreography, which aims to intelligently challenge both audience members and the form of dance itself, have been commissioned by, amongst others, Electric Works Gallery (San Francisco), College Preparatory School (Oakland), Dialogue Dance Company (Kostroma, Russia), Acid Rain (Chelyabinsk, Russia), and twice by the Yekaterinburg University of the Humanities (Yekaterinburg, Russia). In 2007, The Fringe Club (Hong Kong) presented three of Charles’ new works. In 2006 and 2007 he performed with Provincial Dances Theatre in Yekaterinburg, Russia under the direction of Tatiana Baganova.

Erin Kraemer (Performer), originally from Atlanta, Georgia, has been dancing in San Francisco since 2005. She studied two years with Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet School Ensemble, and has previously danced for the San Francisco Opera, West Bay Opera, and Yannis Adoniou’s KUNST-STOFF. In addition to her work with FACT/SF, Erin also works for Kara Davis’ Project Agora.

Catherine Newman (Performer) is a professional modern dancer with training from UC Berkeley, where she studied modern dance and dance-theater. Catherine has recently performed for Ariel Osterweiss Scott, Jess Curtis, Anna Dal Pino & John Lefan, Reggie Wilson- Fist and Heel, Barry Webster, Charles Slender, Ellis Wood, and the San Francisco Opera. In 2010, Catherine received a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley.

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*FACT/SF is holding a company audition on January 8th via ODC’s Audition Series to cast two new performers for this and other company projects.