FLOODESIGN

"Visiting instructors and performing artists bring a unique level of integration to the course work. It is a great opportunity for students to ask questions, engage in exercises outside the classroom, and see creativity at work in the world." —Prof. Mike Lees, Creative Thinking course instructor " Dance for Film on Location at Montclair State University Now in its third year, this unique project, supported by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, provides exceptional choreographers and filmmakers with the opportunity to explore the art of dance when created especially for film. Montclair State students take on key roles in the development, production, and performance of each film and its accompanying contextual insights. Choreographer Doug Elkins creates the third film in the series, premiering April 2017. Campus Collaborations ACP collaborates with faculty and staff to connect Peak Performances to co-curricular programs in all Colleges of the University. Peak Performances artists participate in discussions, workshops, and master classes that support teaching and learning across academic disciplines. A signature initiative is the Creative Thinking project, a multidisciplinary course based on the core premise that it is possible to develop tools and approaches to foster innovative thinking. Other programs, such as the Live Literature Salon reading series curated by the First-Year Writing program, thematically pair course content with performances. Artists in Residence Performing Arts Research Laboratory: QUIXOTE This new initiative is designed to provide innovative emerging artists with the resources to create a new work while in residence on the Montclair State campus. The creative process is opened to students, faculty, and staff through discussions, lectures, workshops, and open rehearsals. Amy Beth Kirsten (composer, librettist, and vocalist), Mark DeChiazza (director, choreographer, and video artist), and the artist collective HOWL initiated the program in fall 2015, as they work toward the premiere of QUIXOTE in March 2017. Choreographer Nora Chipaumire and dancer Shamar Watt work with Montclair State students. Photo: Gennadi Novash www.peakperfs.org 55

• Cover