Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY - Grant Carey ’13 returns to Dillingham as composer and sound designer for “In A Particular Way,” an original dance piece choreographed by Amy Walker-O’Brien. This is one of three original pieces in diverse styles that make up the biannual dance concert, this year entitled, “Winter Bodies.” Performances will run in the Hoerner Theatre in Dillingham Center at 8 p.m. on Nov. 29, Dec. 1, Dec. 2 and Dec. 3, as well as at 2 p.m. on Dec. 3 and 4.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Dillingham Center box office or online at ithaca.ticketforce.com. The box office is open Monday–Thursday, noon–5 p.m.; and Friday, noon–4 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone at (607) 274-3224. Tickets range in price from $8 to $16. 

Carey, a member of the two-person band, Summer Underground, said that his relationship with Walker-O’Brien began while he was a student. He would occasionally jump behind the piano during his dance classes to improvise music while the class improvised movement. Of this experience, Carey says, “I actually can’t think of a better metaphor for my experience at Ithaca College. I was making up music while I should’ve been dancing!”

This musical banter took a formal turn when, during his junior year, Walker-O’Brien invited him to compose music for her mainstage pieces, “Momentum” and "Once Upon A Time." The process was a positive and collaborative one, and one both he and Walker-O’Brien have wanted to revisit for some time.

The opportunity arose with “In A Particular Way,” which focuses on humans as creatures of habit, whether or not we can break free of them, and what makes us continue to succumb to them. Carey translated this concept into music by incorporating the repetition of phrases and musical motifs. Carey elaborates, “I use a lot of repetition in my work, so this was a pretty natural fit. I wanted to experiment with repetition and how it might break into euphoria, crumble suddenly, or veer unexpectedly into something else. Playing with time signatures and obscure rhythms is something I wanted to experiment with, too. Plus, what is more fun than dancing in 5/8?”

The first time he and Walker-O’Brien collaborated, his composition was performed live by a quartet. This time, the sound will be an immersive recorded experience.

While composing, Carey was inspired by the dancers and often attended rehearsals to improvise on the piano or guitar as he had done while he was a student. Something he hadn’t expected was how much of his singing would end up being featured in the recording. Walker-O’Brien emphasized how much she wanted Carey’s voice to be a strong part of the music. Carey says, “The piece starts mostly instrumental, but becomes more textual toward the end. I tried to create language that felt obtuse enough so that it supported and lifted the piece, rather than bogging it down with some hyper-specific narrative. I think the vocals bring a unique, unexpected but familiar vibe. It definitely feels a bit more ‘me’ with my voice involved – that’s both vulnerable and really exciting.”

“In A Particular Way,” is one of the three original dance pieces of the dance concert “Winter Bodies.” The production will also feature choreography by Lindsay Gilmour and Courtney Young.

“Winter Bodies” contains language and situations that may not be appropriate for children under 17. Viewer discretion is advised.

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The Dillingham Center accommodates all patrons. Individuals with special needs are asked to contact (607) 274-3224 to request accommodations as soon as possible.

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