ERIC MICHAEL HANDMAN portrait
  • Director of Graduate Studies, Modern Dance Department
  • Associate Professor, School Of Dance
801-581-7327

Creative Research

  • greenland Large-scale collaboration for 5 directors/choreographers and 37 dances Hayes-Christensen Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT) Commission, completed 02/02/2023.
  • Presented at the Biennial for Arts and Technology hosted by the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology at Connecticut College. Daedalus Dreams is a performance for a solo movement artist and two drones (unmanned aerial vehicles). This work marks the creative collaboration between visual artist Zach Duer, dance artist Scotty Hardwig, and choreographer Eric Handman. In this postdigital pas-de-trois, the dance of human and drone asks questions that are both contemporary and mythical in the unfolding queerness of body and machine. Performance, refereed, completed 11/11/2022.
  • Daedalus Dreams is a performance for a solo movement artist and two drones (unmanned aerial vehicles). This work marks the creative collaboration between visual artist Zach Duer, dance artist Scotty Hardwig, and choreographer Eric Handman. In this postdigital pas-de-trois, the dance of human and drone asks questions that are both contemporary and mythical in the unfolding queerness of body and machine. Performance, completed 10/21/2022.
    https://vimeo.com/764305244 Password: DD2022
  • In the fall of 2022 I began collaborating with four colleagues and a cast of 37 dancers from the School of Dance on an original, evening-length dance entitled "greenland". We began rehearsals in the fall to work toward a Spring 2023 performance at the Hayes Christensen Theatre. This collaboration was the first of its kind for the School of Dance Choreography, in progress 10/17/2022.
  • crawlspace Sextet for the University of Utah School of Dance Gala Concert Hayes-Christensen Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo93W3l1KEA Choreography, completed 04/01/2021.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo93W3l1KEA
  • "Grey Raven", Dance for nine performers for the University of Utah School of Dance Gala Concert Hayes-Christensen Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 02/27/2020.
  • I restaged "Remora" on GroundWorks Dance Theater in Cleveland, OH in August 2019. It was performed at the Alyn Theater in October 2019. Choreography, completed 10/26/2019.
    https://vimeo.com/373813241
  • "Future-proof", Commission for 16 dancers attending the LINK festival hosted by SALT Contemporary Dance Company (Salt Lake City, UT). Choreography, completed 05/24/2019.
  • Lost Half Commissioned duet by MET Dance (Houston, TX) Choreography, completed 12/15/2018.
  • After Ours Commissioned large group work by MET Dance (Houston, TX) Choreography, completed 11/15/2018.
  • The Weight of Dust Commissioned sextet by CONDER/Dance (Phoenix, AZ) for the 2019 Breaking Ground Festival of Contemporary Dance, Tempe Center for the Arts Choreography, completed 06/06/2018.
    https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cDGErOwo-M6MlSBj...
  • Galatea Prime Quintet for University of Utah School of Dance Gala Concert Kingsbury Hall, (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 03/16/2018.
  • Cloud Runner Commissioned by SALT Contemporary Dance Company for 7 dancers, to premiere at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (Salt Lake City, UT) April 2018 Choreography, completed 12/19/2017.
  • Repertory Dance Theatre re-licensed and restaged my 2009 dance Ghost Ship for their October 2017 concert "Sanctuary" at the Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts. Choreography, completed 10/12/2017.
  • Alarm Will Sound Quartet for Performing Dance Company, University of Utah Department of Modern Dance, Hayes-Christensen Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 10/13/2016.
  • Omnivore Commissioned by SALT Contemporary Dance Company for 9 dancers, premiered at the Eccles Theater (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 10/13/2016.
  • Permanent Now Sextet commissioned for Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company, (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 08/24/2016.
  • Modus Sextet commissioned for students at Sonoma State University, (Rohnert Park, CA) Choreography, refereed, completed 03/19/2016.
  • Common Fate Commissioned by the Department of Ballet University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 12/2014.
  • Against Entropy Created for the Northwest Dance Project Launch: 9 program. Commissioned for winning the 6th Annual Pretty Creatives Choreographic Competition Premiered at Lincoln Performance Hall July 19, (Portland, OR) Choreography, completed 07/2014.
  • Disappearing Days Quartet for Performing Dance Company, University of Utah Department of Modern Dance, Hayes-Christensen Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT) Winner of Northwest Dance Project’s 6th Annual Pretty Creatives Choreographic Competition Selected to represent the Western Regional Conference of the American College Dance Festival Association 2014 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC) Selected to represent the University of Utah Department of Modern Dance at the Western Regional Conference of the American College Dance Festival Association 2014, Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) Adjudicated and selected to represent the University of Utah Department of Modern Dance at the gala performance of the Western Regional Conference of the American College Dance Festival Association 2014, Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) Choreography, refereed, completed 04/2014.
  • Every Future, a Fiction Commissioned by Glendale Community College/Verve Dance Company (Phoenix, AZ) Choreography, completed 04/2014.
  • Duo Duet commissioned by the College of Northern Colorado Dance Program (Greeley, CO) Choreography, completed 03/2014.
  • SubTerrain Solo commissioned by Carley Conder, director of CONDER/dance and the Breaking Ground Festival of Contemporary Dance and Film. To premiere at the Tempe Center for the Arts (AZ) in March 2015. Choreography, completed 03/2014.
  • Phantom Limb Septet commissioned by CO.DA cooperative dance company (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 02/2014.
  • Idaho Dance Theater commissioned me to restage my 2013 dance "Good Morning, Midnight" for thier January 2014 concert. This commission came about as a result of winning IDT's New Visions choreography competition. Commission, refereed, completed 01/2014.
  • Every Future, a Fiction Commissioned by Glendale Community College/Verve Dance Company (Phoenx, AZ) January Choreography, completed 12/21/2013.
  • Good Morning, Midnight Commissioned to be restaged in December 2013 by Idaho Dance Theatre for their January 2014 season (Boise, ID) Commission, completed 12/18/2013.
  • Disappearing Days Quartet for Performing Dance Company, University of Utah Department of Modern Dance, Hayes-Christensen Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT) Excerpt to represent the Department of Modern Dance at the 6th Annual College of Fine Arts Distinguished Alumni Awards 2013 Legacy Assembly (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 10/24/2013.
  • Arrayan Septet for the CCDUNA (Contemporary Dance Company for the Universidad Nacional Costa Rica, Teatro de la Danza (San Jose, CR). Funded by a Fulbright Specialist Grant from the Center for the International Exchange of Scholars. Choreography, completed 06/30/2013.
  • "Torch" quintet to three John Adams scores. Premiered in 2012 at Kingsbury Hall accompanied by the University of Utah Philharmonic. Performed in Berlin at the Staatlische Balletschule. Choreography, completed 03/10/2012.
  • StagePlay: the first iPhone application designed to promote choreographic thinking through visualizing music in spatial terms. Media Arts, in progress 04/01/2010.
  • Organism Trio for Performing Dance Company, University of Utah Department of Modern Dance, Hayes-Christensen Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT) Performance, completed 02/11/2010.
  • "Ghost Ship" commissioned by Repertory Dance Theatre for their October 2009 season. Commission, completed 10/2009.
  • "Past Life", a solo for Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and performed at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. Choreography, completed 09/2009.
  • "This Human Alchemy" a trio that premiered at the Colorado College Dance Festival. Choreography, completed 07/2009.
  • "Mortal Coil" sextet performed at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. Performance, completed 04/14/2009.
  • "Ghost Ship" commissioned by Headwaters Dance Company. Commission, completed 01/2009.
  • approaching no calm Choreography by David Dorfman Performances as a part of duet concert Palpate: An Evening of Dance and Film with Pamela Geber, Warner Main Space, Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH) Performance, completed 11/20/2008.
  • Ghost Ship Sextet represented the University of Utah Department of Modern Dance at the gala performance of the Northwest Regional Conference of the American College Dance Festival Association 2008, Jeanné Wagner Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 10/20/2008.
  • Mortal Coil Sextet for Performing Dance Company, University of Utah Department of Modern Dance, Hayes-Christensen Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 10/02/2008.
  • Sound Designer Mortal Coil Choreography by Eric Handman Other, completed 10/02/2008.
  • Dark Room Screened at Oberlin College as part of duet concert with Pamela Geber, Palpate: An Evening of Dance and Film (Oberlin, OH) Media Arts, completed 09/20/2008.
  • Interior with Seven Figures (duet excerpt) Choreography by Susan Marshall Performances as a part of duet concert Palpate: An Evening of Dance and Film with Pamela Geber, Warner Main Space, Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH) Performance, completed 09/20/2008.
  • The Last Year of Limbo For 10 members of Utah Ballet, University of Utah Hayes-Christensen Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT) Choreography, completed 04/03/2008.
  • Sound Designer and video projections The Last Year of Limbo Choreography by Eric Handman Other, completed 04/03/2008.
  • My film Exile was screened on May 16 and 17 2008 as part of a Brolly Arts/TRASA Urban Arts collective presentation at Westminster College on the subject of "desert". Media Arts, completed 05/16/0017.

Presentations

  • Choreographing Partnering: Tools for a Creative Process. Presentation, Accepted, 03/12/2013.

Copyrights

  • Flock. Eric Handman, Darren Kicks, Sara Pickett, 07/01/2012.

Geographical Regions of Interest

  • Costa Rica
    Guest Instructor: Modern Dance Technique, Composition/Improvisation, Contact Improvisation Escuela de Danza, Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica) .
  • Germany
    Taught at the Guest Instructor: Modern Dance Technique, Composition/Improvisation Staatliche Balletschule (Berlin, Germany) .

Publications

  • Eric Handman & Roger Altizer, Greg Bayles, Cheryl Wright (2020). Choreografish: an arts-based, virtual reality, anxiety intervention for autism. groundworks.io (a2ru). Vol. 1. Published, 11/17/2020.
    https://groundworks.io/projects/44
  • Roger Altizer, Greg Bayles, Eric Handman, Cheryl Wright (2018). Choreografish: Co-Designing 􀁄 Choreography-Based Therapeutic Virtual Reality System 􀁚ith Youth Who Have Autism Spectrum Advantages. CHI PLAY. Accepted, 07/17/2018.