bio slowdanger
taylor knight and anna thompson are co-founding artistic directors of slowdanger, a multidisciplinary performance entity based in Pittsburgh PA. They use movement, found material, integrative technology, electronic instrumentation, vocalization, physiological centering, and ontological examination to produce their performance work since 2013. The more they engage in this collaborative work, the more they recognize the manifestation of their work as a non-binary entity that is one body amassed of multiple bodies in space. Within this system, slowdanger works with an engaged and deepening understanding of energy, synergy, action, gender, time and storytelling. slowdanger is an organism that uses performance and collaboration as ritual practice to delve into circular life patterning such as effort, transformation, and death. Each work seeks a deeper understanding through the practice of making. This ever evolving process is akin to the construction zone where inspiration was drawn for the name, slowdanger. Breaking ground to build upon the demolished surface, using old structures to a innovate a new concept or construction. From directing music videos to scoring a play, slowdanger transforms its shape to adapt to a variety of different containers, producing live and digital/virtual performances, immersive experiences, and open-level workshops/educational initiatives. anna/taylor develop soundscores for theater, dance, film and virtual reality projects as well as act as interdisciplinary movement consultants for actors, musicians, and architects. slowdanger’s performance work has been featured across North America in venues ranging from proscenium theaters and galleries to nightclubs and dive bars. They aim to bring disparate points, people and disciplines together to interface and innovate with each other. Anna/Taylor have created with Sidra Bell, Bill Shannon, MICHIYAYA Dance, Gia Cacalano, Anna Henson, Jasmine Hearn, Maree Remalia|merrygogo, Beth Corning, Mark C. Thompson, The Pillow Project|Pearlann Porter, Jil Stifel, Shantelle Courvoisier Jackson (s+vois) and more.
Their work has been experienced at Springboard Danse Montreal, The MoMA, The Carnegie Museum of Art, Place Des Arts, Université du Québec à Montréal, Dance Place, The VIA Festival, The Andy Warhol Museum, Kahlon, theCURRENTSESSIONS, Honcho (PGH), Hot Mass, The Pittsburgh Biennial, BAAD!, Triskelion Arts, Usine C, The New Hazlett Theater, Kelly-Strayhorn Theater's NewMoves Contemporary Dance Festival and more. They have facilitated workshops at The Carnegie Museum of Art, Sidra Bell Dance New York MODULE, Gibney, Peridance, Painted Bride Arts Center, BAX, The Mattress Factory, Slippery Rock University, Middlebury College, Point Park University, and Carnegie Mellon University. Anna and Taylor alongside David Bernabo are producers and curators of Lightlab Performance Series, a platform for experimental performance from 2013-2019.
slowdanger is one of Dance Magazine’s 2018 ‘25 to Watch’ , emerging choreographers for Springboard Danse Montreal 2018, guest artists at Movement Invention Project, and Sidra Bell's MODULE. They have been in residence at Sidra Bell Dance New York’s MODULE 2017-2020, PearlArts Studio’s Pearl Diving Movement Residency 2017, The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh’s F..I.N.E. Residency 2016, The New Hazlett Theater’s CSA Series 2016, City Theatre’s Belfry Artist Series 2016, and The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater’s FreshWorks Residency 2015. In 2019, they were Creatives in Residence at The Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry at Carnegie Mellon University and Performers in Residence at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Recently they debuted 'for shadowing' for the Kennedy Center as a part of their Arts Across America Digital Stage. Additionally, anna and taylor are Adjunct Professors of Dance at Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts.
Their work has been supported by The Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant 2018, The Heinz Endowments/Pittsburgh Foundation Investing in Professional Artists Award 2019, The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Special Presenters Initiative with Dance Place, The Opportunity Fund 2017/2019, The Pittsburgh Foundation Andrew W. Mellon Grant 2019, The Heinz Endowments Small Arts Initiative 2016/2019.