SLOWDANGER

taylor knight & anna thompson (Pittsburgh, PA) are co-founding artistic directors of slowdanger, a multidisciplinary performance organism based in Pittsburgh, PA. slowdanger uses a systematic approach to movement, integrative technology, found material, electronic instrumentation, vocalization, physiological centering, and ontological examination to produce their performance work, which utilizes performance practice to delve into circular life patterning including effort, transformation, and death. Through the process of making each piece, slowdanger works with a heightened understanding of energy, synergy, action, gender, time, and storytelling.

Their work has been presented by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts, Springboard Danse Montreal, Carnegie Museum of Art, Place Des Arts, Université du Québec à Montréal, Usine C, Dance Place, The Andy Warhol Museum, theCURRENTSESSIONS, BAAD!, Triskelion Arts, New Hazlett Theater, Kelly Strayhorn Theater and more. They have facilitated workshops at Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Mellon University, Gibney, Peridance, Painted Bride Arts Center, BAX, Slippery Rock University, Middlebury College, Point Park University and more. slowdanger was one of Dance Magazine’s 2018 “25 to Watch” and has been supported by The Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant, The Heinz Endowments & Pittsburgh Foundation Investing in Professional Artists Award, and The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Special Presenters Initiative with Dance Place. In addition to their work as choreographers and directors, they have composed scores for dance and licensed their original electronic music compositions to artists and dance companies including Ailey II, Gibney Dance Company, Sidra Bell, Roderick George, Ogemdi Ude, Nile Harris, Mark Caserta, Kayla Farrish, W’him W’him, ABT, School of American Ballet, and more. Their upcoming work, SUPERCELL, is a 2022 National Dance Project/NEFA Grant Recipient, 2022 Creative Capital Shortlisted project and will premier at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and Kelly Strayhorn Theater in late 2023. Since fall 2020, they have been on faculty at Point Park University’s Conservatory of the Performing Arts teaching modern technique, improvisation, repertory, and contemporary partnering.