One Dolphin Day On Earth

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 15:45:12 -0500

On 11/11/11, the Dolphin Dance Project was engaged in an extended period of rehearsals with wild Pacific Spinner dolphins. We are honored to contribute a dolphin's perspective to the One Day On Earth project.

Like us, dolphins have rich cognitive and emotional lives expressed through all kinds of relationships with other members of their pod, their close friends, their family and even other species (primarily other dolphins and whales, but occasionally some lucky homo sapiens). Each dolphin has a perspective as meaningful as any of our own to the story of each day on earth, and as we consider it, we are reminded of all the creatures of the ocean who live their lives in parallel to ours.

Joyful and lovely dolphin days like this are under constant threat from our ever expanding impact on the environment and the oceans in particular. To learn more about the threats they face, and what we can do about them, visit our Protect page.

Sharing: Meet Sirius

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 15:40:16 -0500

One of the wild Pacific Spinner dolphins featured in our contribution "One Dolphin Day On Earth", Sirius can be recognized by the two white spots on her right flank. In this brief portrait, we can appreciate how each dolphin has a unique personality and meaningful relationships with friends and family.

Technique: 60 Seconds Dance

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 15:35:33 -0500

Using footage from a recent training/rehearsal session, we present a 60 seconds dance that demonstrates the technique and skills we are developing to dance with wild dolphins. An out-of-competition offering in appreciation of the 60secondsdance.dk competition. Featuring Chisa Hidaka, Jillian Rutledge and Kathleen Fisher. Text by C. Hidaka. Filming and animation by Benjamin Harley.

Sharing: Quartet Rehearsal

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 15:30:50 -0500

In a recent rehearsal, a wild Pacific Spinner dolphin whom we know as 'CrossBite' spirals down, leading Jillian Rutledge, Chisa Hidaka and Kathleen Fisher in a synchronous dance. Dana Richardson also briefly joins. As Kathleen arcs upward, taking the lead, 'CrossBite' circles around to follow her and guides the other dancers to sustain the quartet's lovely connection. Filmed by Benjamin Harley.

Sharing: Up and Coming

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 15:00:37 -0500

After 3 weeks of rehearsal, the summer of 2011 culminated in an extraordinary week of filming with Atlantic Spotted dolphins and the preeminent underwater filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall.

The first morning, the two adults at the beginning of this clip – BoxTail and FlatTail, as we call them – joined us for an extended underwater session of dance improvisation and play. In this clip, they make space for a youngster for whom they were caring to have a solo opportunity to connect with the humans. As we dive down, the calf loops around to meet us and then leads us to the surface, spiraling into the sunlight.

Sharing: Introducing Scratchy

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 14:10:22 -0500

When we interact with wild dolphins, we get to know them as individuals with personalities as unique – and often charming – as you or me. We would like to introduce one particularly charismatic dolphin with whom we have had the pleasure of meeting and working many times this summer. We call him ‘Scratchy’; in this clip, he insistently tries to get the attention of the camera person.

Interview: First Contact for Kayoko Sawamura

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 14:00:42 -0500

When we met Kayoko Sawamura, she had just encountered wild dolphins for the first time. We could see that she was transformed just as we have been (and as so many people are) by the experience of meeting these fellow creatures respectfully on their terms, as a guest in their home. Overcome with new found adoration, Kayoko shared her thoughts with us: "Just to be in the same ocean where the dolphins are living free ... made me so incredibly happy."

The generosity and trust, curiosity and affection that wild dolphins so clearly express towards humans awakens our moral instincts. We instantly recognize that the only proper response is to offer the same courtesy in return.

As with all our work, we offer this video in the hope that a visceral experience of who dolphins are will naturally elicit concern for their well being and the health of their environment.

Sharing: June Rehearsal with Spotted Dolphins

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 13:50:46 -0500

Rehearsing with Atlantic Spotted dolphins, Chisa Hidaka, Benjamin Harley, and Kathleen Fisher explore how to establish a connection between themselves that allows them to join the pod, not just one at a time, but as a duet or trio of humans. The Dolphin Dance Project is developing a feature length dance film and documentary to share and explain these extraordinary interactions.

Sharing: Dolphin Choreography

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 13:45:59 -0500

A pod of dolphins literally invites two human dancers to join their choreography. As the Dolphin Dance Project develops work with multiple human dancers, this is a wonderful example of the rich compositions and feeling that are possible. Performed by Matisha (www.SongofHome.com), Chisa Hidaka (director) and wild Pacific Spinner Dolphins. Shot and edited by producer Benjamin Harley, with music by Morgan Fisher.

Sharing: Trio-Corkscrew

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 13:40:30 -0500

As Kathleen and Chisa practice dancing like dolphins - a young dolphin approaches and appears to give a lesson, leading them through the ‘Corkscrew’. This is the first clip from Dolphin Dance Project's new work-in-progress, featuring multiple human dancers and wild Atlantic Spotted Dolphins. Performed by Kathleen Fisher (performer/collaborator), Chisa Hidaka (director) and a wild Atlantic Spotted Dolphin. Shot and edited by producer Benjamin Harley, with music by Morgan Fisher.

Coming Soon: After ‘Together’, Preparing for ‘Sharing’

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 13:30:01 -0500

COMING SOON!

Like a dolphin, we come up for air only briefly, and we dive right back down to begin preparing for a more extensive film with multiple dancers, a new pod of wild dolphins, and lots of context to help our audience really understand the profound nature of these interactions.

Japan Dance: 海の友達 (Friends in the Ocean)

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 13:00:50 -0500

Captured in the Bahamas on a trip with a group of dedicated, dolphin loving Japanese, this short film is dedicated to the potential for friendship and harmony between humans and dolphins. When people are inspired to love dolphins, they will take care of them and fight for their protection - imagine the effect of regular public service messages like this.

The voiceover translates as “Dolphins are our friends. We want to protect them because we love them.”

Research Clips: Flippering

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 12:45:02 -0500

Recorded during a research trip with Diana Reiss, these young Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (stenella frontalis) flipper each other's pectoral fins to indicate alliance or maybe affection. As the story goes, Tilly (the one with her face in the camera) wasn’t paying much attention to her friend, enjoying Chisa’s company (or her reflection in the camera) instead. So Tilly’s friend came over to get her attention . . .

'Together' Highlights: Duet

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 12:08:09 -0500

This underwater ‘duet’ captures the intimate experience between a human and a dolphin as they dance together. Filmed on the last day of our pilot shoot, it conveys the essential qualities of dance as a vehicle for communication between species and the spirit of the Dolphin Dance Project’s future productions.

For still images of this sequence and a moment by moment description of the exchange between the human and dolphin dancer, visit our Duet still photos.

'Together' Highlights: The Twirl

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 11:50:25 -0500

This clip from our pilot footage is an example of a human and dolphin dancing together using synchronous motion. The dancers watch each other intently, moving together so neither knows who is the leader and who is the follower.

'Together' Highlights: The Swirl

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 11:45:13 -0500

From our first day of filming, this clip is an example of improvised dance at its finest. Multiple dolphins join the human dancer, form an underwater quartet with seemingly choreographed spatial configuration and rhythm, then ‘swirl’ to the surface listening carefully to each other at every moment.

For still images of this sequence and a moment by moment description of the interactions between the human and dolphin dancer, visit our Swirl still photos.

Pilot Footage Clips: Bubble Stream

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 11:30:10 -0500

Dolphins often make a unique whistle while emitting a bubble stream like this one. Scientists studying Spinner and other species believe that the whistle is something like a salutation - 'hi, i'm [whistle], nice to see you' - and the bubbles provide emphasis. In this case, perhaps the dolphin was especially happy to see our camera man, Bryce Groark. Since dolphins are generally very careful about splashing or creating bubbles - and they are known to emit large bubble clouds when aggressive - we suspect that a thin stream is a sign of politeness.

Pilot Footage Clips: Welcomed as one of the pod

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 08:11:17 -0500

When the Dolphin Dance Project begins, it is welcomed by a pod of more than 300 dolphins as one of their own. The boat is surrounded by dolphins, leaping, playing - they ride the bow wave of the boat, even turning on their side to see us better. Mothers and aunties bring their babies to have a look. Even our local boat captain and videographer were amazed.

Assorted Clips: Early Footage Spinner Dolphins

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 02:39:04 -0500

Early footage of dolphins. See how curious they are about the camera - they see us looking through it, and they want to see back into us.