The Family Reunion Project

Thanks For Participating in The Family Reunion Project. Stay Tuned for The Collective Document.

thefamilyreunionproject — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:46:06 +0000

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for coming out and participating in the Family Reunion Project! It was so much fun dancing to Stevie Wonder in the name of unity. Here are some pictures of the event:

Check out these videos of the event from inside of the performance:

If you have any picture and/or video of the event, please post them on Flicker and You Tube so the world can share in the experience!

Also, please email me the link at electricslide2009@gmail.com . . . I would love to see them and share the link on this blog site.

Thanks so much everybody!

Peace,

Samantha Hill

Photo Credit: Laurie Palmer

Video Credit: Gwenn-Aël LYNN

Here is the Plan for The Family Reunion Project!

thefamilyreunionproject — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:15:23 +0000

Hello Everyone!

Here is The Plan for The Family Reunion Event!

Documenters:

If you would like to video the Happening with your camera or cell phone, click here for instructions.

Dancers:

Here’s the rundown:

3:00 to 3:10:

We will assemble on the lawn at Wrigley Square in Millennium Park. The entrance to Wrigley Square is at Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street.

3:10 to 3:20:

Pep Talk Warm Up! It time to gear up for the Electric Slide! If there are any changes, I will give any instructional updates at this time. If anyone has any final questions, feel free to ask me at this time.

3:20

We will all walk over to Cloud Gate. I would like you to mix in with the crowd and hang out around the plaza. Please bring cameras to the event and take photos and video of the event.

3:30

I will stand in front of Cloud Gate and announce the inspiration behind the project. I will quick talk about the energy during Election Night and how the people their bonded into a family. This dance is a Family Reunion to recapture the Election Night energy.

When I say “My Family! Please join me in the Electric Slide”, the music will start and I will start dancing. Then the dancers can come up and join the line. The dance will last about 10 minutes.

This Electric Slide performance should be like any wedding or party line in which you have danced the Electric Slide. It’s all about having fun! Don’t forget to help out your neighbor if they need help with the dance. If you mess up . . . just keep going and have a good time.

Here are some Electric Slide examples to inspire you! I’ll see you on Saturday!

Do you remember The Electric Slide at Work video? Here is the other version!

Help me flood YouTube! The Family Reunion Collective Document

thefamilyreunionproject — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:08:19 +0000

Hi Everybody!

I am looking for people to record The Family Reunion event with their personal camera or cell phone and post the video on YouTube. This will be a Collective Document of the Happening, which will give the Internet viewer an idea of the energy stimulated by the performance at Millennium Park.

I am looking for videos that represent your experience of the happening. The footage can consist of the performance, the audience reactions as well as your own personal response.

Here are some of my favorite camera/cellphone responses from Election Night. I hope they inspire you to come on by and contribute to the project!

Documenters, meet us at Cloud Gate on October 17th at 3:30 pm. Please upload the video as The Family Reunion Project or Electric Slide at Millennium Park. Thanks!

Obama Grant Park Live Reaction to CNN Projection that Democrats Win

Obama’s Elected! (Crowd reaction at Chicago Rally)

Barack Obama Election Night Chicago Rally — Front Row

Electric Slide Workshop

thefamilyreunionproject — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:41:29 +0000

Hi Everybody!

We will be dancing the Electric Slide to Stevie Wonder eleven days from now! I hope all of you are as excited as me! I’m looking forward to dancing with all of you.

I will be holding a workshop on how to dance the Electric Slide this Sunday 1:30 to 3:00. This workshop is for those who would like personal instruction on the dance and also to meet the other dancers. This event is free and open to the public. Here is all of the info!

Sunday, October 11th
1:30 to 3:00 pm

South Side Community Art Center
3831 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653

Please RSVP for the workshop at electricslide2009@gmail.com by Saturday, October 10th.

Thanks and I hope to see you there!

How to do The Electric Slide

thefamilyreunionproject — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:02:02 +0000

I have been talking to several people about dancing the Electric Slide in the name of unity. A common response to this project is:

“Cool! I want to do it, but I don’t know how to do the Electric Slide.”

Well . . . Here is a video that shows you how to do it step by step.

We will be dancing to Stevie Wonder instead of country music, but this dance is so easy! You can do it to any song. Here’s the event song. I hope it inspires you!

Here is also campy instructional video just for fun! Enjoy!

If you would like personal instruction on how to do the Electric Slide, please come to the workshop and meet other dancers. Stay tuned for more info!

Frequently Asked Questions: Why Millennium Park?

thefamilyreunionproject — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:06:02 +0000

Q: Why did you choose Millennium Park for this event? Election Night happened at Grant Park?

A: Good question . . . well, originally when I thought about this project I planned on having it at Grant Park, but the permits for an event of this size would have cost me over $2000. I am a (poor) graduate student and therefore I’m not eligible for grant funding. The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs accepts proposals for artist projects like this one, which will supplement most of the costs.

Q: Why Cloud Gate (The Bean) as a site for this event?

A: Cloud Gate is one of America’s most photographed landmarks. Hundreds of people visit Cloud Gate a day . . . so if over 100 people dance the electric slide as a symbol of unity a few people will witness it and hopefully join in the fun!

Here are some of my favorite flicker pictures of families at Cloud Gate. Enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scotthorrigan/3619662578/

I love the title of this one . . . “okay, another one, but only because we are so cute”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasmine/709673707/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kedzior/3882855012/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseole/3855553121/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_ovaska/3704594741/

Event Date Change: October 17th at 3:00pm

thefamilyreunionproject — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:11:11 +0000

Hello Friends!

I would like to give you an update on The Family Reunion Project.

I have to change the event to Saturday, October 17th at 3:00pm because of a possible conflict dealing with the Olympic announcement.

The Olympics announcement will be made “officially” in the park on October 2nd and if Chicago is selected as the city of choice, they will pursue activities in the park on October 9th through 11th. This will take up the entire park, which will be reserved all day on those 3 days. The Department of Cultural Affairs has an obligation to override any projects/performances, etc. in order for 2016 to move forward with the planning. So I decided to change the date to give everyone advance notice.

I hope everyone can still participate on October 17th at 3:00. Please visit the blog for more updates about the project as well as fun, inspirational video clips.

Thanks!

Samantha Hill

It’s Electric! The Power of a Dance

thefamilyreunionproject — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:02:02 +0000

I like to see you move with the rhythm; I Like to see when you’re dancing’ from within.
-Bob Marley

So, I guess you are wondering . . . why the electric slide? The electric slide is a group line dance, which is usually performed at celebrations such as weddings, but occasionally a spontaneous line will pop up. It’s a great community dance because:

#1: It’s really fun to dance, especially with family and friends.

#2: It’s contagious. Sometimes people that witness the dance will usually join in on the fun.

#3: If you don’t know the electric slide, the other dancers will teach it to you. It’s a community dance so it is a better experience with a large group . . . the more the merrier!

#4: If you mess up while performing the electric slide it’s ok . . . as long as you are having a good time!

#5: It’s a dance for all ages. If you can walk, then you can participate in the fun.

Here are a few of my favorite examples:

Do you feel inspired to do the electric slide? Invite family and friends to dance with you when you RSVP . . . and make new friends while you participate in the fun!

Frequently Asked Questions

thefamilyreunionproject — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:29:24 +0000

Question: What is a Happening?

Answer: Happening is an event, which combines different elements of painting, poetry, music, dance & theatre and staged them as a live action. This type of performance art is usually done in public space and can be a collective act.

Question: What is a Flash Mob?

Answer: A flash mob is an event in which a large number of people congregate at a certain place and perform a named activity for a certain amount of time. After completion of the named activity, the participants disperse as if nothing happened.

Question: Are they the same thing?

Answer: Well, they can be, but it depends on the event . . . or who you are asking.

Question: Do you have any examples?

Answer: Yes, I do. Here are some examples of my favorite Happenings/Flash Mobs. These performances demonstrate the energy I would like to create for this event (without the complex choreography). Enjoy!

Question: Awwww MAN!! Do I have to know how to dance to participate in the project?

Answer: No. (I can’t dance like that either.) The Electric Slide is an easy dance. Anyone can learn it, plus the best thing about the dance is if you mess up . . . no one will see you.

Project Inspiration

thefamilyreunionproject — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:41:20 +0000

The Family Reunion is a Happening inspired by the events which occurred in Grant Park on Election Night. The people in attendance were filled with hope in their hearts for change. Many bonding moments occurred in the park, which unified the group into a community. We entered the park as strangers and left with the same connection of being witnesses to history. I would like to recreated this experience by initiating a Happening in Millennium Park, which would be a gesture commemorating the spirit of this historic moment.

The Cloud Gate in Millennium Park is one of the most photographed landmarks in the United States. It is considered a Chicago icon and attracts visitors from around the world. This location is essential to the performance because the public will witness this symbolic act of unity from Chicago residents while visiting this famous work of art.