My experience of this interactive composition class has been one of compromise and learning by doing. I signed up for this class because I was interested in working with musicians, visual artists and technological devices. I had collaborated with musicians before, but never with musicians using technology, and never with visual artists; so, I was very excited.

At the first class, however, I was a bit overwhelmed because all the technological lessons were way over my head. I was relieved to find out I was not expected to run the technology, but understand it as best I could and work with it as a dancer, not as a technological expert. That's the attitude I kept the whole time and I think it served me well and would be my advice to next semester's class' dancers: learn and soak in as much as you can, keep an open mind and compromise, but don't be afraid to voice your needs, concerns, and ideas.

Keeping that attitude, I am very happy with our project. I think Liz and my duet is very cool with all the wires and ways of working with them. I am happy to have seen Malene create such an interesting version of violin motion movement with Liz and Maja's duet-it's beautiful. I am happy to have worked with quirky and fun Alex and Isami and hear all their zany ideas for inflatable wee-wee-pad pillows and isolation chambers. And Nick and Keith have worked so hard; I have learned much much respect for technological musicians and all the issues with which they must deal.

The one reflection I have which I am not sure is a good or bad thing, is that we have no artistic vision for this project, nor do any of the other groups as far as I know. It has kind of just been a mish-mosh of random ideas. I think maybe this is because it is hard to just say okay here's the deal-this is going to be our project- when the collaborators are for the most part strangers with equal experience and authority. Learning personalities and visions, I believe, is what sets artists apart from mathematicians or scientists, and it was pretty hard to have that level of understanding in this class. I guess that those of us who want to continue with this interactive work will develop that with whomever we choose to share our career, and that this was just an introduction to collaboration in this way and what we have created and experienced is as much as can be expected. Some day we will be the next Troika Ranch, but for now I am happy with the little bit I have learned and the friends I have made.

dt151@barnard.edu