At MANCC, Tania Isaac dedicated focused research time to the writing, bibliography and movement vocabulary for in the name of. Her vision of a research vehicle was the creation of a “living notebook”, which would be designed to display written, audio, voice and video recordings relevant to her research for this new work. Consistent community interaction with the “living notebook” through viewing, participating in creative stations, and conversation was a final goal that would assist in furthering her research investigation. Set designer and dramaturge Aaron Hyman joined Isaac as collaborator in residence.
ARTIST OUTCOMES
Through her exploration of the “living notebook’s” design, function and purpose, Tania is now utilizing this research vehicle as a continual part of her choreographic development. In exchange for development of dance course curriculum, Girard College in Philadelphia has offered unlimited use of a dance studio and office to Tania Isaac Dance so that Tania’s living notebook materials from MANCC plus further research ideas can inhabit the space.
Isaac’s in the name of is currently in development and is expected to premiere in 2008.
COMMUNITY OUTCOMES
Through the "Living Notebook", Tania provided multiple entrypoints for our community that were mutually engaging and informative for Isaac and participants. A number of professors engaged with Tania’s research through classes including; World Dance, Religion and Gender, Eastern Caribbean Social Dance, and Intro to the Dance Profession. Tania presented to all dance student, staff and faculty in Dance Forum; in addition the Living Notebook was open for public interaction for a variety of times and dates throughout her residency.
Student observations:
“Experiencing Tania’s research process first-hand probed me to further study the French colonization of St. Lucia and discover the similarities of how certain people from different cultures manipulate life or dance forms. More specifically how West African dances such as Ghana court dance or dances under the Yuroba tradition were manipulated by religions.” -- Olivia Aman, BFA dance student
“Not only could we physically hear and communicate with an artist who was going through the choreographic process, but we could also make connections to the things we were learning about in World Dance as well as the other classes we have taken in the Department [of Dance]. I am so glad that I was able to participate in this artist’s choreographic development, and cannot wait to see how her research time at MANCC affects her final piece.” -- World Dance student
“The opportunity given to Tania Isaac and the gift she gave to us [as FSU students] is definitely a rarity and a blessing. By way of the “living notebook” she let us into her mind, like we’re walking around in her thoughts and embedding ourselves and our ideas in her memory to be used later for research.” -- Sharlene Melbourne, BFA dance candidate
BIOGRAPHY
Originally from St. Lucia, West Indies, Tania is currently based in Philadelphia, PA where she continues to explore the esthetic, kinesiologic, cultural, and political bases of contemporary dance. Her work has been presented at venues throughout the U.S., England, Japan and the Caribbean, including City Center Fall for Dance, and the HIP festival in London. Her video work has been screened at the ADF Dancing for the Camera Festival of International Film and Video Dance in North Carolina, at the International Festival of Video Dance, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and at the Prince Theater and on WHYY television.
A unique marriage of Caribbean and contemporary movement, music and esthetics, Tania's work has been supported by the CEC New Edge Residency Program, the Leeway Foundation, Dance Advance: a program of the Pew Charitable Trusts, Independence Foundation, NPN Creation Fund, NPN Community Fund. Tania was the Resident Artist for the Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia, PA 2003-2005 and a US/JAPAN Exchange Artist through Philadelphia Dance Projects and DTW in 2005.
Graduating with honors from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, she received her MFA from Temple University where she was a Teaching Assistant and University Fellow. Tania has taught at Temple University and Bryn Mawr College as well as giving workshops and classes at Matsuyama and Ehime Universities, Michigan State and Rowan College. Named one of ’25 to watch in 2006’ by Dance Magazine, Tania is a former Associate Artist at the Atlantic Center for the Arts and a former member of Ronnie Harris Puremovement, Urban Bush Women and Li Chiao-Ping Dance. She is a recipient of 2004 Rocky Award for her solo work in Rennie Harris’ Facing Mekka and her own production home is where I am. standpipe, her latest evening length work, was co-commissioned by Painted Bride Art Center and Dance Place in part through the NPN Creation Fund and Community Fund and will be presented at the Bates Dance Festival in the summer of 2006. Tania Isaac Dance is part of the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour (PennPAT) Artist Roster. In 2006-2007 she will be conducting presentations and workshops as a Commonwealth Speaker with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.
COLLABORATORS
Aaron Hyman, set designer and dramaturge
Trained and experienced in architecture, interior and object design and fabrication, with an extensive movement background from athletics, dance, martial arts and integrated performance he has been working with Tania since 1998.
Artists 
