Program Overview
This program provides training in dance improvisation, durational time-based art, film, site-specific work, and environmental installation. Led by movement artist and educator Alia Swersky, the program combines practical instruction with a focus on vulnerability, fierceness, and deep connections with people and places. Students will develop skills in a variety of dance styles, including full audience participation, One-to-One performances, and site-specific dances. The program also emphasizes endurance, repetition, stillness, and other elements of time-based art.
Program Outline
Her artistic path over the last two decades has been shaped by this yearning for deep and meaningful connections with people and places. As a co-creator, ritual maker, and a “horizontal” director, Alia seeks to touch others through dance, somatic presence, vulnerability, and fierceness. Her work ranges from full audience participation to intimate acts of One-to-One performances, site-specific dances for film and live performance, as well as durational time-based art that includes physical acts of endurance, repetition, stillness, subtlety, singing, soft energetic grace, abstraction, caricature, and a deconstruction of clichés such as extreme high femme expressions. Her teaching and art-making seek to create practices that embrace endurance on stage and in life as acts of resistance, resilience, release, and beauty. As a performer, Alia has also toured nationally and internationally as a member of the LeGendre Performance Group and has performed in the works with many Seattle artists, some of which include The Maureen Whiting Company, Khambatta Dance Company, Jurg Koch, KT Niehoff, and Salt Horse. She was a long time Co-artistic director of Dance Art Group (DAG), a non-profit organization that promotes the practice and appreciation of dance and somatic education in the Seattle area, including the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation.
Cornish College of the Arts
Overview:
Cornish College of the Arts is an arts college located in Seattle, Washington. It is known for its focus on creativity and innovation, empowering students to become artists, citizens, and innovators. The college is situated in the heart of Seattle, surrounded by theaters, museums, music venues, and galleries, providing students with ample opportunities for artistic exploration and engagement.
Services Offered:
The college offers a range of services to students, including:
Academic Resources:
Academic calendar, course catalog, facilities, multimedia checkout center, registration and records.Programs and Support:
Commencement, First Year Foundations, Humanities and Sciences, Library Services, Alum Extra Year, Office of Student Life, Writing Center.Departments:
Art, Dance, Design, Film, Interior Architecture, Music, Performance Production, Theater.Admission Services:
Admission Office, Cornish Near You, Digital Publications, Meet Our Counselors, Schedule a Visit.General Information:
How to Apply, Audition and Portfolio Requirements, Housing and Residence Life, Admitted Students, Tuition and Financial Aid, Application Portal.Visit Cornish:
Campus Map, Contact Us, Parking.Resources:
Consumer Information, Financial Operations.Who We Are:
Cornish at a Glance, Diversity and Inclusion at Cornish, Faculty and Staff Directory, Leadership, Board of Trustees.Connect With Us:
Attend an Event, Find a Job, Read the Blog, Explore Alumni Resources, Rent Cornish Space.Give:
Support Cornish, The Syvilla Fort Scholarship Fund, Donate Now.Student Life and Campus Experience:
Cornish College of the Arts offers a vibrant and engaging campus experience. Students have access to a variety of creative spaces and resources, including performance venues, studios, and galleries. The college also hosts a range of events and activities throughout the year, providing opportunities for students to connect with fellow artists and the broader Seattle community.
Key Reasons to Study There:
Location:
Situated in the heart of Seattle, a city renowned for its arts and culture scene, providing students with access to a wealth of artistic experiences and opportunities.Focus on Creativity and Innovation:
Cornish emphasizes a hands-on, experiential approach to learning, encouraging students to explore their creative potential and develop their artistic skills.Strong Faculty:
The college boasts a faculty of experienced and accomplished artists and educators, providing students with mentorship and guidance.Diverse Programs:
Cornish offers a wide range of academic programs in the arts, allowing students to pursue their passions and develop their unique artistic voices.Academic Programs:
Cornish College of the Arts offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in the following areas:
