On Air is research conducted between 2021 and 2023:
In the 1930s talkie technology (sound + moving image) was developed which put Vaudeville's live performers out of work. In 2020-21 a global pandemic has left performing artists jobless.
After conducting Vaudeville orchestras in the 20s and early 30s my great grandfather, Joseph Gershenson made a musical shorts production company, Mentone Productions, to adapt to the changing technology and times.
This year, while many choreographers have become dance filmmakers due to dark theaters, I have explored super 8 mm film as a medium for my choreographic process. The audio in this edit is from Mentone Productions' 1930s recordings I searched for and found in 2016. This video is an ode to the adaptability of artists navigating life in America for the past 100 years.
This work was possible thanks to the support from CA$H Grant and the incredible dance artist / collaborator, Erin Yen.