As Within, So Without,
As Above, So Below
Rachel Helten
Project Description
The seed of inspiration that has sparked my curiosity is the quote “As Within, So Without, As above, So below.” To me this quote reflects how our internal world mirrors the external world around us and visa versa. I continue to see the microcosm of my personal realm being projected into the macrocosm. As the wounds of humanity continue to be exposed I am lit up with an insatiable desire to find ways to amplify peace, love and unity in our world. I believe the only way to heal the world around us is to start by healing ourselves. In the pursuit of this, I have been delving deeper into the different Jungian archetypes that live within our subconscious and how embodying these characters through movement can be a healing act of alchemy. This transformation will be embodied through dance, found sound, real-time digital projections, voice and poetry.
For this project, I will be exploring the embodiment of the caregiver as well as the antithesis of this: the passive shadow – the victim and the active shadow – the codependent. The Caregiver: “The Caregiver is relationship-driven. Caregivers thrive on caring and nurturing.” The Victim: “Whether enslaved or codependent, Caregivers who go too far will end up Victims, not just of the people for whom they are caring but of their own guilt and feelings of inadequacy.” The Codependent: “Caregivers can become ensnared in situations beyond their control and wrongly take responsibility when things go badly.” To bolster my research I have been investigating how these archetypes present themselves within Greek Mythology. For this project I will be emulating the ultimate “caregiver” – Gaia: The Greek Goddess of The Earth. I will generate movement through tasks stemming from personal journal writings, texts from Greek mythology, and examining artwork of Gaia. I will bring in the energy of nature through real-time digital projections that respond to my movement. This transformation from embodying my shadow to my light will be presented by my movement and the digital environment.
Artist Profile
Rachel Helten is a dance artist, choreographer, and teacher currently based on the unceded indigenous land belonging to the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō (Stolo), and Səl̓ílwəta/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. (Vancouver, B.C.). In 2016, she completed her BFA in Dance at Simon Fraser University. The cornerstones of Rachel's practice are found in deep listening, collaboration, interdisciplinary methods and unearthing the stories that live within our bodies. She has been blessed to be a part of processes that nurture these fascinations with a vast array of artists. Her select credits as an independent artist are working with Desirée Dunbar, Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, The Plastic Orchid Factory, The East Vancouver Opera and Voirelia: Psychology, Philosophy and Dance Hub. Her work has been presented at various venues around the lower mainland. Rachel desires to honour our histories and the poetry of nature through her work.
http://www.facebook.com/rachelhelten
Choreographer and Key Collaborators
Choreography + Performance: Rachel Helten
Music Composition: Jeremy Helten feat. Ben Helten
Digital Projections: Ezequiel Peralta Film + Edits: Bijan Karim
Outside eyes: Anat Rachel Cederbaum, Margarida Macieira, Nicolas Ventura + Ana Sosa.
Community Engagement
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: My outreach activities would include community-level workshops/ international workshops (in an online context). For this series I would offer free/ by donation classes in community centres (i.e. West Point Grey Community Centre, online or outdoors).
AGE GROUP(S): I would like to engage with communities of all walks of life.
BUDGET: Workshops 1.5 or 2 hours *The provisions of our contract will take into account the CADA/West Basic Dance Policy and accompanying CADA/West Fees and Rates Standards document. I will be collaborating with professional artists. Their fees will reflect The CADA/West recommended rates for an hourly wage of $35/hr for teaching.
BUDGET OPTIONS
Option 1: Rachel teaches alone for 1.5 hours – 2 hours (in person/ online) TOTAL = $52.50 – $70.00
Option 2: Rachel teaches with live music for 1.5 – 2 hours (in person) 1.5 hour workshop – $52.50 x 3 = $157.50 2 hour workshop – $70.00 x 3 = $210.00
Click here for example of workshops for outreach activities + community engagement.
Outreach Activities
This work can be paired with community-level workshops or international workshops. In the making of this process I was experimenting alone in the studio, with my collaborators as well as sharing new-found dance making tools in classes. My research had begun before quarantine and continued throughout isolation. I adjusted what I would teach in the studio to an online platform. I was surprised to find that the concepts I was investigating still translated well in an online context. I was able to create connections with artists from various corners of the earth which bolstered my research further as I found similitudes in our experiences. Hearing others reflections related to the tools and concepts we were experimenting with expanded my research further and was supporting evidence to the questions I had been asking.
OUTREACH ACTIVITY: My outreach activities would include community-level workshops/ international workshops (in an online context). AGE GROUP(S): I would like to engage with communities of all walks of life.
BUDGET: Workshops 1.5 or 2 hours *The provisions of our contract will take into account the CADA/West Basic Dance Policy and accompanying CADA/West Fees and Rates Standards document. I will be collaborating with professional artists. Their fees will reflect The CADA/West recommended rates for an hourly wage of $35/hr for teaching.
BUDGET OPTIONS:
Option 1: Rachel teaches alone for 1.5 hours – 2 hours (in person/ online) TOTAL = $52.50 – $70.00
Option 2: Rachel teaches with live music for 1.5 – 2 hours (in person) 1.5 hour workshop – $52.50 x 3 = $157.50 2 hour workshop – $70.00 x 3 = $210.00
Option 3: Rachel teaches alongside digital artist Ezequiel Peralta for 1.5 – 2 hours (in person) 1.5 hour workshop – $52.50 x 2 = $105.00 2 hour workshop – $70.00 x 2 = $140.00
Option 4: Rachel teaches in concert with live music and interactive technology for 1.5 -2 hours (in person) Composers: Jeremy Helten feat. Ben Helten Digital Artist: Ezequiel Peralta 1.5 hour workshop – $52.50 x 4 = $210.00 2 hour workshop – $70.00 x 4 = $280.00
Click here for example of workshops for outreach activities + community engagement.
Past and
Upcoming performances
August 21st, 2020, Addo Platform, Online, My home (Vancouver, British Columbia) via Zoom. Future Dates: DBT
FULL LENGTH
photos by Rebecca Smith
Project Details
Type of work
DANCE/ THEATRE, MULTI- DISCIPLINE
Performance Type
This work can be performed in a theatre and an online context. Technologies: recorded music, projector, touch designer, and projector screen. THIS WORK IS ADAPTABLE TO THEATRE OR OUTDOORS OR ALTERNATE VENUES. *This work can be adapted for outdoor venues but was originally created for an online performance or in theatres. I.e. For outdoor venues with low technical requirements, the piece can be done without the projections.
This is a work for a mixed program. I currently have two iterations of the piece and working to expand the work. Piece can be a stand alone piece of 11 minutes or an extended version of 25-30 minutes. *I have two solos as a part of this work. That can be performed in concert with one another or separately depending on the needs of the show.
Audience Type
This work is for people of all ages and walks of life.
Length in minutes:
I currently have two iterations of the piece and working to expand the work. Piece can be a stand alone piece of 10 minutes or an extended version of 25-30 minutes. *I have two solos as a part of this work. That can be performed in concert with one another or separately depending on the needs of the show.
# of Performers
2-5
# of Support Staff
*Can be performed with only the solo dance artist and digital artist. *If budget permits for workshops - 2 composers and 1 technical support member. Choreography + Performance: Rachel Helten Music Composition: Jeremy Helten feat. Ben Helten Digital Projections: Ezequiel Peralta Technical Support / Costume: Rebecca Smith
Fee range:
less than $2500
Available to tour:
Fall 2021, Winter, 2022, Spring 2022, Summer 2022 Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Spring 2023, Summer 2023
Technical Requirements
Requirements: -Sound system to play music -Projector (We own a projector and can include this in-kind.) - Projector Screen (We own a projector screen and can include this in-kind.) **Can be performed without digital projections depending on needs of the show and space.
Technical Residency
No. But if possible. Minimum 2-4 hours of tech rehearsal
Tech Rider
Click here for Tech Rider/Credits/Press.
Artist Name
Rachel Helten
Location
Vancouver, Kitsilano, West Point Grey, The unceded indigenous land belonging to the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō (Stolo), and Səl̓ílwəta/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Contact Person
Rachel Helten
Email
rachelhelten@gmail.com