May 23, 2011
The Van Nuys Flyaway
Created by artist Anna B. Scott and the Viscera Performance Instigation Troupe, 'Bout to Get On accentuates the overall service-oriented mission at the Van Nuys Flyaway. As a site-specific, interactive performance, ‘Bout to Get On is based on an ancient creation myth of the world. Through interaction with existing Van Nuys Flyaway signage, the characters descend upon earth and continue their journey in life and express the emotions associated with their travels. Rather than a traditional staged dance performance, the artists specialize in movement through space, responding to the built environment, and engaging audiences.
With a doctorate in Performance Studies from Northwestern and extensive training in traditional, collaborative performance from the African Diaspora, Anna Beatrice Scott practices performance at the intersection of dance, digital devices and text, on stages, in blogs, books and through strategic marketing plans. She has been fortunate to collaborate with Jessica Emmanuel, Wilfried Souly, Thomas DeFrantz, Pat Payne, Ulysses Jenkins, Sheron Wray, Meg Wolfe, Najité, Brian Getnik, and Ritsu Katsumata on an array of performance work. As a dancer, she has performed for Alassane Kane, Augusto Omolu, Isuara Oliveira, Malonga Casquelorde. Her work is archived at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the J. Paul Getty Museum. Scott has produced major festivals, conferences, tours, websites, and workshops. She has presented her solo performance work in traditional and non-traditional spaces around the country including the REDCAT, MIT, Express Yourself Festival in Chicago's Grant Park, Bayview Opera House in San Francisco, streets around Los Angeles as well as a few international sites like the Slaghuset in Malmô Sweden and Teatro Castro Alves in Salvador-Bahia, Brasil.
Photos courtesy of Bill Short