Christian Swenson

Trash Apes

THE PROJECT:

The Trash Apes show everyone just how easy it is to throw away trash. The apes will be roaming around a number of different events this summer picking up after the humans and interacting with them. This project, directed by Christian Swenson, is meant to entertain as well as raise awareness of a number of issues within the human community.

And yes, the apes are also trained to recycle.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Christian Swenson, Director:
Christian Swenson has an extensive background in dance, mime, voice and improvisation. He is known for his pioneering work in what he calls "Human Jazz", a global fusion of dance/drama/music for body and voice.

In 1977 he received a BA in Theater from the University of New Hampshire and moved to Seattle to work with the Bill Evans Dance Company. Further training has included work with Tony Montanaro; Diane Schenker; Ruth Zapora; Korean shaman, Hi-ah Park, and with the late Pakistani master-singer, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He has performed with Bill Irwin, The Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and The Jay Clayton/Jim Knapp Collective and in Europe with Jim Nollman of Interspecies Communication Inc. He presently teaches in the Drama program at Seattle University.

For the past 25 years he has been performing creations for the body and voice searching for a more global aesthetic. Since 1980 he has been a touring artist visiting communities and schools in the Northwest and beyond. He has performed and taught throughout North America, as well as in Europe and Asia. Christian released his first compact disc, “Off-Road Vocals” in 2000.

SPONSORS: