Charles Dennis is an interdisciplinary artist/producer, choreographer, performance artist, videographer and teaching artist whose work combines dance, theater and media to explore themes of identity and humanity in a technological society. He directs and produces works of live performance as well as video art.

Charles Dennis began his career as a dancer/performer with director Robert Wilson's theater company, The Byrd Hoffman School of Byrds, in 1971. He toured extensively with the group appearing in many of the group's landmark works including the orginal production of "Einstein On The Beach" (1976).

In 1979 Charles Dennis co-founded Performance Space 122, one of this country's most active presenters of new dance and performance art, and contributed greatly to its development. He currently serves on P.S. 122's Artist Advisory Panel.

Charles Dennis' performance work has been described by Dancemagazine as "physical theater". Since 1980 he has created a series of critically acclaimed solos and inter-generational, community oriented dance/ performance works. His 1996 work “Full House” toured in this country in the form of community- specific productions featuring local participants and performers. “Almost from the start I was in love with the unlikely residents who keep bursting through the slats of the crooked slat house… they occupy a little model of a fragile world where tolerance, friendship and respect can make an overcrowded room seem like a fine safe place to be. Dennis has orchestrated their activities with zest and affection” (The Village Voice). In the 90’s Dennis’ turned to addressing issues of identity in a mediated world with a series of critically acclaimed solo dance/video works. “Mr. Remote” (2000), still being performed, has received numerous acclaims…“the work has the dynamic energy of dance itself, a rare thing in videodance and Mr. Dennis plays with real, imagined and video time with quietly dazzling wit and comfortable humanity.”(The New York Times). Dennis received a 2003 Fellowship in Performance/Interdisciplinary Art from the New York Foundation for the Arts. He has also received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Franklin Furnace Fund for Performance Art. In 1999 he was the recipient of a UCLA National Dance Media Fellowship award.

in 2003 Charles Dennis collaborated on the video design for choreographer Neil Greenberg’s “TWO”, presented at Dance Theatre Workshop in New York, which was cited as one of the 10 best dances of 2003 by The New York Times,“…Neil Greenberg used video (by Charles Dennis) to expand and revitalize the stage space, making it an exhilarating element”.

In 2004 Charles Dennis premiered “Homecoming – Celebrating 20 Years of Dance at P.S. 122”, a documentary that chronicles the origins of the space and which showcases 10 leading choreographers (Ron Brown, Ann Carlson, Yoshiko Chuma, Dancenoise, Mark Dendy, Ishmael Houston-Jones, Jennifer Monson, Charles Moulton, Sally Silvers and Doug Varone) whose careers were launched at P.S. 122. “Homecoming” was featured at the 2004 American Dance Festival.

Charles Dennis has been documenting the New York City downtown dance & performance scene since 1989. He specializes in affordable multi-camera video shoots and digital editing for artists and non-profit organizations. Recent clients have included the Dance Collection of the New York Public Library and choreographers Jane Comfort, John Jasperse, Risa Jaroslow, Steven Koplowitz and Pilobolus.

Charles Dennis is also the director and producer of “Alive & Kicking”, a video series which profiles cutting edge dance and performance artists which is being distributed to educational institutions worldwide. 80 programs have been produced to date

Charles Dennis is also a gifted teacher who has taught workshops in dance, performance art and video in a wide variety of venues.

Upcoming Screenings     Alive and Kicking Video Series     Alive and Kicking Programs 1-20     Alive and Kicking Programs 21-40     Alive and Kicking Programs 41-60     Alive and Kicking Programs 61-80     Alive and Kicking Programs 81-100     Homecoming - a film by Charles Dennis     Programs for Colleges and Universities     Videos for Viewing - Requires Quicktime Player     Digital Video Movie-Making Class for Grades 3-12     Charles Dennis Bio     Wedding Videography     Home    

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