Series: Frames of Reference
Program: Dances: Remy Charlip
Date: 1978-01-01
Duration: 00:00:37

Subject: Modern dance
People: Charlip, Remy
Copyright Holder: WGBH Educational Foundation and Remy Charlip (Choreography and Drawings)

Clip Description
Remy Charlip performs "Glow Worm" in a studio at WGBH, on a set comprised of oversized desk accessories from the Boston Children's Museum.

Program Description
This episode of "Frames of Reference" features a compilation of works by choreographer Remy Charlip.

This compilation of works by choreographer Remy Charlip was created for the series "Frames of Reference." Each piece is introduced by a computer graphic of one of Charlip's figure drawings. Most of the dances were created for the camera. "Dance in a Bed" was created by the dancer following Charlip's directions to connect a series of his figure drawings. The dance was done on a bed and shot from above. Produced by Nancy Mason. Directed by David Atwood.

The works included are as follows:"Glow Worm" features Charlip dancing in a studio at WGBH on a set comprised of oversized desk accessories from the Boston Children's Museum.
"Meet" comprises of a duet performed by two men out of doors, incorporating still images.
"Dance in a Bed" is shot from overhead and features a woman in long dress executing a series of movements on a mattress. The work was reconstructed by the dancer from Charlip's drawings.
"Match" features three simultaneous duets in an abandoned building.
"Etude" is shot in the studio featuring Charlip tap dancing and tossing a blown-up globe.

"Frames of Reference" was a series that began circa 1978. Half-hour shows were produced to showcase commissioned and already created works. It was around this time that the focus of the Workshop shifted, to concentrate more heavily on creating works for broadcast. During its time, "Frames of Reference" was the focus of the Workshop's national arts programming effort. The series ended circa 1983.

Series Description
The New Television Workshop originated at WGBH, a public broadcasting station in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1974 to support the creation and development of experimental video art. This experimental programming included dance, drama, music, performance and visual arts on video and film. As early as 1968, WGBH was committed to the development of video art through residency programs, with artists such as Nam June Paik, and the "Rockefeller Artists-in-Television" project. Many of these early works (pre-1974) were broadcast both locally and nationally.

As an umbrella for arts related programming, the Workshop included "Artist's Showcase, " "Frames of Reference, " "Dance for Camera, " "Poetry Breaks," and "New Television," as well as acquired arts programming. Individual works were created for "Visions," a series produced by WNET (New York), and "Alive From Off Center," a series produced by KTCA (St. Paul - Minneapolis). The Contemporary Art Television (CAT) Fund was co-founded by the Workshop and Boston's Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) in the 1980's, to commission works by video artists. In 1993 the Workshop ceased production at WGBH.

See also: http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/NTW/FA/TITLES/Dances37.HTML