Ben Franklin’s Lightning Strikes the University of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA - At the University of the Arts (UArts), President Miguel Angel Corzo, together with School of Dance Director Susan B. Glazer and Executive Director of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Rosalind Remer, greeted about 150 guests at a special reception to celebrate the world premiere of "Electrifying Ben,"* a "Multimedia Dance Performance" honoring the 300th birthday of the man who proved the existence of electricity.
In the University's Terra Hall, Governing Board and faculty members, sponsors, supporters, teachers, artists, alumni and friends of The UArts gathered under a ceiling festooned with hundreds of kites. After many smiles, greetings, discussions and observations, the guests, braving cold winds, walked en masse to The UArts Merriam Theater nearby to view a performance of "Electrifying Ben."
Among the assemblage of luminaries was Marc Ricketts, founder of GuildWorks (Portland, Ore). He designed 'zero-wind' kites of all shapes and sizes for each of the dancers in "Electrifying Ben." The performance took place against a backdrop of--what else but an electrical storm! A darkened sky pierced by flashes of lightning.
Ricketts uses space age materials which would no doubt have delighted Benjamin Franklin: carbon fiber composites and ripstop polyester sail cloth suspended with spectra fiber lines.
With particular praise, President Corzo illuminated the important contributions of another participant involved in the Tercentenary. Said he: "One of our outstanding faculty members, Silvana Cardell, directed and choreographed a dazzling performance that incorporated not only kites but also themes of invention and electricity. Benjamin Franklin's spirit of creativity, innovation and invention is very much alive at The University of the Arts."
*The performance was made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Wolf - Ted and Stevie respectively - who are "Kite Aficionados."