Q: How can I sign up to participate in How Philly Moves?*
Q: Can I participate if I’m not a professional dancer?
Q: What if I’m differently-abled? I use a wheelchair/crutches/etc…
Q: I’m under the age of 18… Can I still participate?
Q: Can you include [my favorite famous dancer] in the mural?
Q: What if my type of dance requires a location, group of people, props, etc?
Q: Can you do outreach in other ways besides only online and in English?
Q: What was the selection process for the March 2010 shoots?
Q: What happens if I’m selected?
Q: What is the shoot like?
Q: If selected to be photographed, where will my image go?
Q: What if I’m not selected?
Q: Can I come and watch the photoshoots?
Q: Sounds great! How can I be a part of it?
Q: How can I sign up to participate in How Philly Moves?*
A: Use this participation form to get involved. Please note that the deadline to be considered for the shoots that will generate the imagery for the mural at the airport has already passed; there will however be many other ways to be involved with the project as it evolves, and JJ will most likely hold future shoots to continue the project.
Q: Can I participate if I’m not a professional dancer?
A: No worries! If you self-define as a dancer, whether in a club, in your kitchen, or in a social way and would like to fill out the participation form we would love to have you. HPM celebrates dance of all genres and styles. However HPM photo shoots are for solo dancers or a maximum of two people (no groups).
Q: What if I’m differently-abled? I use a wheelchair/crutches/etc, but still consider myself a dancer.
A: OF COURSE! Considering yourself a dancer is the only qualification for this project. You are welcome to participate, no matter what your range of motion, age, background, body type, style of dance, etc. If you self-identify as a dancer, then you are a dancer, and this project is about you. The venue for the March shoots is a first-floor venue and should be easily accessible.
Q: I’m under the age of 18… Can I still participate?
A: Yes! But you’ll need a parent or guardian to come with you and fill out the release form.
Q: Can you include [my favorite famous dancer] in the mural?
A: We would be thrilled for [your favorite famous dancer] to sign up to participate in the project. But we will be equally thrilled by each other person that signs up. It’s important to note that this project is not about celebrity. This project is about the fact that dance is a universal joy that anyone can take part in, so everyone is welcome to participate. It’s also worth noting that this project is not about history; it is about the diversity of dance in Philly today as photographed by JJ, so we won’t be including any historical imagery or accepting photo submissions. However, anyone that signs up by 5pm on Feb 19th will be considered for one of the photoshoot slots, so encourage that favorite dancer of yours to sign up. While you’re at it, sign yourself up too!
Q: What if my type of dance requires a particular location, large group of people, particular props, etc?
A: We realize that some dances are site-specific, or require large groups, but there are some constraints to the photo sessions: Participants will be photographed individually or in pairs against a black backdrop. This project does not attempt to be the complete document of all dance in Philadelphia, but rather a broad celebration of different types of movement. You are welcome to bring a partner and imagine that you two are part of a larger line dance, but we can not photograph large groups, or do other shoots on location as part of this project. (You can always talk to JJ about hiring him separately, but those images will not be considered for the mural.) As to props, you can bring them along as long as they are safe and will not damage the location. Hula hoops and scarves are ok, flaming poi and sharp swords are not.
Q: Can you do outreach in other ways? The participation info is only online and in English – which immediately excludes some people.
A: We hope that that’s where you’ll help us out. Dance is universal, but we’re well aware of the issues created by digital and language barriers. Due to financial and logistical realties, everything is being coordinated in English and online. We have a Spanish translation of the press release thanks to Ana, and if you’d like to translate it to another language, let us know! If you know someone who loves to dance but for whom language or web access are a barrier, please consider acting as their liaison to this project. Also, JJ can communicate in fluent French or tolerable Spanish during the shoots.
Q: What was the selection process for the March 2010 shoots?
A: Looking at the responses from participants was a little bit like looking at Philadelphia through a Kaleidoscope: we saw a beautiful, colorful, multi-faceted image of the community of dancers in the city. Knowing full well that the view through this lens cannot possibly be an absolute representation of all dance in the city, we were still amazed to see the range of responses that we received.
Just like the image in a Kaleidoscope can go through infinite variations as you spin the dials, there are any number of ways to pick a selection of dancers from the responses. Each combination would generate a beautiful range of imagery, and each combination would leave out other equally wonderful dancers. The fact of the matter is that there are certainly more types of dancers in the city than we can fit on the parking garage walls.
It’s important to be clear that the selection process for the shoots (and the eventual selection in the final design) has nothing to do with one particular dancer “winning” over another. This project isn’t just about the particular dancers that are photographed, but rather about the fact that Philly is full of dancing. The final design will give us a glimpse of the bright, beautiful and multi-faceted face of dance in the city. The winner here is the entire community of dancers that will be celebrated in this massive installation, and every single viewer that will be welcomed to the city with the joy of dance.
Q: What happens if I’m selected?
A: The 60 people who will participate in the upcoming HPM shoot will be notified during the week of Feb 22, 2010. At this time, you will be assigned a day and time-slot and we will post more FAQ’s about how to prepare for your photo shoot. Please check back here for the participant selection announcement, and keep up with the project as it develops.
Q: What is the shoot like?
A: Dancers will be assigned a time slot, and can bring whatever music and dress they would like for their shoot. We’ll set the right lighting, based on the dancer’s costume and movement style. JJ will photograph each participant for about 10 minutes, one at a time. There will be a few assistants on hand to help with the shoot, but if the dancer would like complete privacy, they’ll all step out. Here’s the key part: Whatever the dancer does do will be perfect. The dancing is not an audition, and no one will be judged. The dancers will just move however they’d like, and JJ will photograph in response to the dance. The shoot is not about setting up poses but rather about capturing the energy and spirit of dancers in motion. Check out the video on the gallery page for a quick idea of what the shoot might look like. For information about the venue, visit their website.
Q: If selected to be photographed, where will my image go?
A: Images from the shoots will be made available online, and participants will have access to them for their personal use. Additionally, some images may be used in the mural at the Philadelphia International Airport. Participation in the photo shoot does not guarantee placement in the mural—we have many design elements to consider and anticipate using approximately 25 people total from the 130 dancer images made. There may be future uses of the images beyond the Airport mural; we already know that we will include more images in an exhibit inside the Airport. All participants will be required to sign a release form that will cover future use of the images as this project evolves into a continuing celebration of dance in Philadelphia.
Q: What if I’m not selected?
A: We expect the response for the March shoots to be large, and unfortunately will not be able to accommodate all the requests for participation. HPM is an ongoing community art project, and we expect to have more photo shoots in the future. You can indicate on the participation form if you would like to volunteer to help run the photo shoots, get updates about community paint days and other HPM events. If you have a community space that would be interested in hosting a shoot in the future, feel free to drop us a line.
Q: Can I come and watch the photoshoots?
A: Unfortunately, no. The HPM shoots are magical minutes between the dancer and photographer that aren’t a performance event. We will be posting some images and documentation on this site, and there will be a documentary about the whole HPM Mural Arts Project created by the Big Picture Alliance, so keep an eye out for that.
Q: Sounds great! How can I be a part of it?
A: Use the participation form to sign up as a dancer, or even if you just want to get email updates or volunteer to help out.
*Remember that we are all a part of how Philly moves, regardless of whether you sign up for this project. Take a moment to find joy in your neighbors; that’s what this is all about.
