Alumna Anna Sullivan and the Annadroids will take the spotlight
The androids are here.
Ohio University alumna Anna Sullivan and ‘the Annadroids’ are bringing a sexy and quirky dance style to the stage at The Ridges Auditorium.
“It’s multimedia dance theater. We typically always use video depending sometimes we do sight-specific work where there’s no ability to do video,” Sullivan, the owner of the company, said. “Dance theater because it’s very theatrical, the movement tells a story, and the video tells a story. … We’re not clowns, we’re not mimes, we’re androids.”
Sullivan graduated from OU in 2003 and then started working with a dance company in Columbus where she stayed for about a year before realizing her true passion. Working on her own projects and her own work lead her to where she is today, owning and performing in a successful dance company.
“I started looking for dancers and then I put together a group of girls,” Sullivan said. “I started working on a project that was then called ‘Anatomical Scenario’ and through that project I started creating characters.”
Playing with makeup, costuming and adding wigs, Sullivan was trying to figure out through movement how she could connect the character with movement that could blend well. Thus Anna and the Annadroids began.
A collaborator of Sullivan’s came up with the name, and that name stuck to the company for 10 successful years now. Performing at many other locations and festivals including Trauma Halloween Fetish Party in Columbus.
Sullivan said that she considered changing the name strictly because of artist purposes. She said that she has many other ideas in mind, but for now it works.
“When you have something that people remember, it’s recognizable, the look matches the name; it works.” Sullivan said.
Sullivan added that it’s rewarding that she has succeeded enough that she can bring her dance company back to OU and perform, give workshops for the students and help inspire them for their futures.
Many students and administration attended her workshops throughout the week, eager to see her perform in the big performance at The Ridges.
“It’s a whole new experience for me, to experience actual company life with (Sullivan),” Sydney Sanders, a sophomore studying dance, said. “I actually do want to perform in a company I don’t necessarily want to start my own but it was cool to see how she runs hers.”
Sanders said that the whole concept that Sullivan has with video, projections and choreography is astounding and she is most excited to see everything coming together as a whole.
“I’m excited about a lot of things,” Nathaniel Berger, administrator in fine arts, said. “This seems like a true collaboration they’ve been working at it together maybe not to conception but very close to conception which is great, so I’m looking forward to see what comes to that.”
@annachristine38
ag836912@ohio.edu
