The Big Squeeze

Choreography: Randee Paufve

Dancers: Katie Faulkner, Rebecca Johnson, Marlena Oden, Shaunna Vella,Diane McKallip, Frank Shawl, Stephanie Ballas, Randee Paufve, Lisa Bush

Lighting Design: Steven Clifford

Sound Composition: Heather Heise

 

The Big Squeeze is a site-specific performance featuring six dances about love, home, space and place. Delving into love’s illusions, The Big Squeeze explores the friction between reality and vision that precipitates both heartbreak and human compassion.

Premiere: April 2006, Shawl-Anderson Dance Center (site-specific), Paufve Dance ProductionJuly 2006 Joyce SoHo, NYC, co-production. Excerpts presentedby Djerassi Resident Artist Program’s October 2006Harvestgala fundraiser Resident Artist Program; July 2006 West Wave Dance Festival; October 2007 UC Berkeley’s UnpluggedSeries; November 2007 Side By Side, Julia Morgan Theater, curated group show ; November 2006, 8x8x8, The Starry Plough Pub, Paufve Dance Production; July 2005 ODC Theater/West Wave Dance Festival, curated group show

VIDEO > Ghost, one of six dances from The Big Squeeze. Dancers: Stephanie Ballas and Randee Paufve. Video: Christian Bruno

VIDEO> Dissolve, one of six dances from The Big Squeeze. Dancers: Diane McKallip and Frank Shawl. Video: Christian Bruno

VIDEO> Dissolve, one of six dances from The Big Squeeze. Dancers: Diane McKallip and Frank Shawl. Video: Christian Bruno

“The Big Squeeze” Four dancers dressed in red, black, white, denim streetwear in a diagonal line, facing left screen, caught in mid-air jump, arms flung behind, legs tucked up underneath them. Dancers: Katie Faulkner, Rebecca Johnson, Marlena Penny O

“The Big Squeeze” Four dancers dressed in red, black, white, denim streetwear in a diagonal line, facing left screen, caught in mid-air jump, arms flung behind, legs tucked up underneath them. Dancers: Katie Faulkner, Rebecca Johnson, Marlena Penny Oden, Shaunna Vella. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Four dancers in vertical row. Close dancer crouches low on floor with her head to the left. Three dancers behind her in various mid-flow shapes, flung toward right screen. Dancers: Shaunna Vella, Marlena Penny Oden, Rebecca Johnson,

“The Big Squeeze” Four dancers in vertical row. Close dancer crouches low on floor with her head to the left. Three dancers behind her in various mid-flow shapes, flung toward right screen. Dancers: Shaunna Vella, Marlena Penny Oden, Rebecca Johnson, Katie Faulkner. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Dancers face camera, one behind the other, mid-step, arms crossed low in front of them, spines curved heads down. Dancers: Stephanie Miller, Randee Paufve. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Dancers face camera, one behind the other, mid-step, arms crossed low in front of them, spines curved heads down. Dancers: Stephanie Miller, Randee Paufve. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Dancers far apart in flung mid-motion, hair flying. One dancer facing front throws their left arm toward the right. Other dancer faces right screen, standing on her right leg, arms flung behind, poised to jump. Dancers: Stephanie Mi

“The Big Squeeze” Dancers far apart in flung mid-motion, hair flying. One dancer facing front throws their left arm toward the right. Other dancer faces right screen, standing on her right leg, arms flung behind, poised to jump. Dancers: Stephanie Miller, Randee Paufve. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white close up, upper body shot of dancer facing left screen, her arms extended out from shoulder. She wears a pensive look. Dancer: Stephanie Miller. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white close up, upper body shot of dancer facing left screen, her arms extended out from shoulder. She wears a pensive look. Dancer: Stephanie Miller. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white shot of dancer, weight on her right leg, in a full flung twist, hair flying. Dancer: Stephanie Miller. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white shot of dancer, weight on her right leg, in a full flung twist, hair flying. Dancer: Stephanie Miller. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white shot of a dancer in power stance, upshot from floor. She faces left screen, diagonally front, in deep bend, with her left arm extended toward mid-sides, elbow bent, fisted hand. Dancer: Marlena Penny Oden. Photo: Ric

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white shot of a dancer in power stance, upshot from floor. She faces left screen, diagonally front, in deep bend, with her left arm extended toward mid-sides, elbow bent, fisted hand. Dancer: Marlena Penny Oden. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white close up, upper body shot of dancer in facing camera head tilted toward left screen, arms extended forward. Her left arm is high, curved and hand fisted, her right arm is extended low, palm open as if catch the other

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white close up, upper body shot of dancer in facing camera head tilted toward left screen, arms extended forward. Her left arm is high, curved and hand fisted, her right arm is extended low, palm open as if catch the other fist. Dancer Marlena Penny Oden. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white shot of dancer in mid motion, facing left screen, standing on tiptoes, arms thrown high, body flung back in arch, hair flying. Dancer: Randee Paufve. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white shot of dancer in mid motion, facing left screen, standing on tiptoes, arms thrown high, body flung back in arch, hair flying. Dancer: Randee Paufve. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white shot. Dancer in foreground is in closeup profile, folded forward toward left screen. Dancer in background is blurred, standing tall, also facing left screen. Dancers: Katie Faulkner, Marlena Penny Oden. Photo: Richar

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white shot. Dancer in foreground is in closeup profile, folded forward toward left screen. Dancer in background is blurred, standing tall, also facing left screen. Dancers: Katie Faulkner, Marlena Penny Oden. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Dancers sitting on floor facing camera, upper bodies tilted toward L screen. Dancer in foreground is in focus, dancer in background is blurred. Dancers: Stephanie Miller, Randee Paufve. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Dancers sitting on floor facing camera, upper bodies tilted toward L screen. Dancer in foreground is in focus, dancer in background is blurred. Dancers: Stephanie Miller, Randee Paufve. Photo: Richard Something

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white closeup of dancers faces, facing R screen. Dancer in foreground’s head is tilted up, eyes closed, serene. Dancer in background is blurred, her hand rests on the forehead of the foreground dancer. Dancers: Stephanie M

“The Big Squeeze” Black and white closeup of dancers faces, facing R screen. Dancer in foreground’s head is tilted up, eyes closed, serene. Dancer in background is blurred, her hand rests on the forehead of the foreground dancer. Dancers: Stephanie Miller, Randee Paufve. Photo: Richard Something

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