Danielle Georgiou
Danielle Georgiou, (still from) Falling, 2012, Performance
“Nothing is funnier than unhappiness.”
-from Endgame by Samuel Beckett
Artist Statement
Combing video, dance, and live performance to create a mirror in which to start looking through the self, I incorporate pop culture references and mechanically mediated techniques to explore contemporary feminine gender dynamics and the intensely personal nature of identity.
The resulting growing body of work is organized around the premise of transforming images of the self, and producing unique and individualized portraits that act as a visual marker for my own search for identity.
Influenced by aspects of Diamanda Galás’ performance style—the terror she achieves with her vocal range and the experimental quality of her filmed and public performances—Cindy Sherman’s photography—particularly her notion of the transformative female—Chris Marker’s editing style, Matthew Barney’s avant-garde techniques, and Guy Bourdin’s highly sexual fashion photographs, the mise-en-scénes I create are basically the performative equivalent of Samuel Beckett on a dinner date with Sarah Silverman.
Both the videos and live performances are love letters: to myself, to my lovers, to you. And they document my own self-discovery of dysfunction. The weight of catastrophic dread is blended in equal measure with female-power and pop, resulting in a darkly comedic performance. With a dash of female spectacle thrown in for good measure—less like Guy Debord, and more like the kitschy, self-reflective music videos of Katy Perry.
Acted out in an ironic form of stand-up comedy and ritual—as lines are repeated over and over in attempt to convince myself of something or to help me become something—the performances beg the question, “will you die from laughing?”
Education
PhD, pursuing, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
MA, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
BBA (Honors), University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
Solo Exhibitions
2014 forthcoming solo exhibition at Women and their Work
2012 Horton Gallery, New York, NY
Group Exhibitions
2013 Temporary Occupants, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX--forthcoming
FLEX-US 2, Ro2 Art Downtown, Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)--forthcoming
Rogue Fringe Festival, Fresno, CA (invited artist)
EXPO 2013, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
Barefoot Brigade Modern Dance Festival, Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas, TX (DGDG)
2012 Fast, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX
Bedding, part of the AURORA project, Dallas Arts District, Dallas, TX (performance installation
with IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
Dallas VideoFest, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX (performance installation and screening)
Feed Bag, Ro2 West Village, Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
‘N Sink, Goodyear Retread Plant, Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
HARAKIRI: To Die For Performances, CentralTrak: University of Texas at Dallas Artist Residency,
Dallas, TX (Slik Stockings; DGDG)
BarbARTque, CentralTrak: University of Texas at Dallas Artist Residency,
Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
Go West Fest, The Nest, Dallas, TX (Slik Stockings)
Lean, House on Mercedes Avenue, Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
FLEX-US, Ro2 Art Downtown, Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
BRIDGED, 500 Singleton Blvd, Dallas, TX (Slik Stockings)
Women’s History Month Performance, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX (DGDG)
A Fraudulent Desire to Exist, Steve Paul Gallery, Dallas, TX
The O.T., CentralTrak, University of Texas at Dallas Artist Residency, Dallas, TX
2011 Shorts Film Competition, Texas Theatre, Dallas, TX
South Dallas Dance Festival, South Dallas Cultural Center, Dallas, TX (DGDG)
Occupy Artopia: subversive performance at the Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX (IN
COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
Art Con, Oak Cliff, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A COLLECTIVE)
Monster Bash, CentralTrak: University of Texas at Dallas Artist Residency,
Dallas, TX (14+1 (now known as IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective))
Confirm and Deny, UTD Art Gallery, Richardson, TX (14+1 (now known as IN COOPERATION
WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective))
HELLO at 1331 Dragon (now Red Arrow Art Gallery), Dallas, TX (14+1 (now known as IN
COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective))
EXCHANGE Dance Festival, Tulsa, OK
EXPO 2011, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
Love and Vices, Teatro Dallas, Dallas, TX (DGDG)
Dallas VideoFest, Dallas, TX
2010 Chick Flicks Film Festival, Women in Film Dallas, Studio Movie Grill, Dallas, TX
Life in Deep Ellum Benefit Performance, Muscle Memory Dance Theatre, Dallas, TX
Dallas VideoFest, Dallas, TX
New York City International Film Festival, New York, NY
Barefoot Brigade Dance Festival, Muscle Memory Dance Theatre, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
Panels
2012 What the #$%& do you do with an art degree?, panelist
1.2 Million Stories: State of the Emerging Arts, panelist
Selected Bibliography
Richards, Ryder. “Art Reviews: Why You Should Avoid Going to Galleries After a Day at The Museum.” D Magazine. August 8, 2012.
Hamilton, Brentney. “The ‘Outlaw’ Collective Muscle Nation is Back, and That’s Good for Dallas Art.” Dallas Observer. July 31, 2012.
Richards, Ryder. “Gallery Hopping: Reviews of Shows at Oliver Francis, Angstrom, CentralTrak, And More.” D Magazine. July 9, 2012.
Hamilton, Brentney. “If I had a Million: Ideas to Inspire and Improve from Artists in the Trenches.” Dallas Observer. June 12, 2012.
Hamilton, Brentney. “On Criticism: Fostering a Constructive Dialogue for Dallas Arts.” Dallas Observer. May 25, 2012.
Laughlin, Jamie. “Performance Art Wins: I Fall on My Own Sword at CentralTrak.” Dallas Observer. May 21, 2012.
Lewis, Betsy. “HARAKIRI: To Die For Performances at CentralTrak.” Glasstire.com. April 25, 2012.
Hamilton, Brentney. “Little Death, Big O: CentralTrak’s HARAKIRI Series Launches Tomorrow.” DallasObserver. April 20, 2012.
Lewis, Betsy. “Flex-Us [In Cooperation with Muscle Nation] at Ro2 Art.” Glasstire.com. March 7, 2012.
Hamilton, Brentney. “Muscle Nation Wants to Pump [clap] You Up at Ro2.” Dallas Observer. March 2, 2012.
Mendoza, Manuel. “Danielle Georgiou debuts her new dance company in Love and Vices.” The Dallas Morning News.
February 20, 2011.
Mosley, Christopher. “Art Review and Photos: The Raw Spectacle of 9 Cents a Copy at CentralTrak.” D Magazine. May 2, 2012.
Putnam, Margaret. “Guns and Roses: Danielle Georgiou Dance Group has both, and more, in ‘Love and Vices’.” TheaterJones.com.
February 13, 2011.
Putnam, Margaret. “Training Day.” TheaterJones.com. November 12, 2011.
___. North Texas Business for Culture and the Arts Leadership Arts Alumni Association Newsletter. 2009.
Spiller, Buster. “SATER takes risk with condensed Romeo and Juliet.” Examiner.com. August 2, 2009.
Leverett, Michelle. “UTA Dance Ensemble overcomes hardship.” The Shorthorn. September 2, 2008.
Stevens, Sue. “Follow the Leaders: Danielle Georgiou.” UT Arlington Magazine. 2007.
Shoultz, Angela. “Next-Generation Leaders.” The Shorthorn. September 26, 2006.
Publications
Georgiou, Danielle. The Politics of State Public Arts Funding. 2008.
Georgiou, Danielle. “Come On, Come, Green Light:” A modern dance interpretation of the “New
Woman.” Sojourn – A Journal of the Arts presents The Best of UTD. 2010.
Georgiou, Danielle. “Humanity Dancing: The Evolution of Black Dance.” Mason/Rhynes Productions/KERA Art & Seek. March 9, 2009. Georgiou, Danielle. “The Literary Jester: An Interview with Christopher Moore.” Sojourn -- A Journal of the Arts. 2009.
Residencies & Collectives
2011-Present CentralTrak, University of Texas at Dallas Artist Residency, Dallas, TX
2011-Present IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective, Dallas, TX
2011-Present Slik Stockings, Performance Art Duo, Dallas, TX
Dance Experience
2011-Present DGDG (Danielle Georgiou Dance Company), Artistic Director, Dallas, TX
2011-Present Contemporary Ballet Dallas, Company Member, Dallas, TX
2012 Eastfield College—Theatre Arts, Choreographer for The Wizard of Oz, Mesquite, TX
2012 Dallas Neo-Classical Ballet, Guest Choreographer, Dallas, TX
2011-12 Richland College, Dance Department, Guest Artist, Dallas, TX
2008-11 Muscle Memory Dance Theatre, Collective Member/PR Specialist, Dallas, TX
2010 University of Texas at Dallas Dance Ensemble, Guest Choreographer/Performer, Richardson, TX
National Performance Network: Annual Conference, Showcased Artist, Dallas, TX
Theatre Experience
2012 I Met You and I Screamed, Actress, Festival of Independent Theatres, Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas, TX
Flesh World, Dancer/Movement Coach, 500 Singleton Bvld, Dallas, TX
2010 Twilight, Los Angeles: 1994, Assistant Director/Movement Coach, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2009 Romeo and Juliet, Choreographer, Dallas Hub Theater, Dallas, TX
Teaching Experience
2011-Present Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX
2010-Present University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2009-Present Richland College, Dallas, TX
2007-Present University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
Awards
2009 Patricia A. Porter Arts Management Fellowship (Communities Foundation of Texas
University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Armstrong Fellowship, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2008 Highest GPA with Most Credit Hours (Political Science Masters Program), University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2006-08 Honors College's Bridge to Graduate School Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2004-06 Goolsby Leadership Academy Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2005 Dance Ensemble Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2002-06 Freshman Honors Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2002-04 Honors College's Access Logistics Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
PhD, pursuing, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
MA, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
BBA (Honors), University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
Solo Exhibitions
2014 forthcoming solo exhibition at Women and their Work
2012 Horton Gallery, New York, NY
Group Exhibitions
2013 Temporary Occupants, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX--forthcoming
FLEX-US 2, Ro2 Art Downtown, Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)--forthcoming
Rogue Fringe Festival, Fresno, CA (invited artist)
EXPO 2013, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
Barefoot Brigade Modern Dance Festival, Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas, TX (DGDG)
2012 Fast, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX
Bedding, part of the AURORA project, Dallas Arts District, Dallas, TX (performance installation
with IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
Dallas VideoFest, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX (performance installation and screening)
Feed Bag, Ro2 West Village, Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
‘N Sink, Goodyear Retread Plant, Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
HARAKIRI: To Die For Performances, CentralTrak: University of Texas at Dallas Artist Residency,
Dallas, TX (Slik Stockings; DGDG)
BarbARTque, CentralTrak: University of Texas at Dallas Artist Residency,
Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
Go West Fest, The Nest, Dallas, TX (Slik Stockings)
Lean, House on Mercedes Avenue, Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
FLEX-US, Ro2 Art Downtown, Dallas, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
BRIDGED, 500 Singleton Blvd, Dallas, TX (Slik Stockings)
Women’s History Month Performance, Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX (DGDG)
A Fraudulent Desire to Exist, Steve Paul Gallery, Dallas, TX
The O.T., CentralTrak, University of Texas at Dallas Artist Residency, Dallas, TX
2011 Shorts Film Competition, Texas Theatre, Dallas, TX
South Dallas Dance Festival, South Dallas Cultural Center, Dallas, TX (DGDG)
Occupy Artopia: subversive performance at the Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX (IN
COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective)
Art Con, Oak Cliff, TX (IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A COLLECTIVE)
Monster Bash, CentralTrak: University of Texas at Dallas Artist Residency,
Dallas, TX (14+1 (now known as IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective))
Confirm and Deny, UTD Art Gallery, Richardson, TX (14+1 (now known as IN COOPERATION
WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective))
HELLO at 1331 Dragon (now Red Arrow Art Gallery), Dallas, TX (14+1 (now known as IN
COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective))
EXCHANGE Dance Festival, Tulsa, OK
EXPO 2011, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
Love and Vices, Teatro Dallas, Dallas, TX (DGDG)
Dallas VideoFest, Dallas, TX
2010 Chick Flicks Film Festival, Women in Film Dallas, Studio Movie Grill, Dallas, TX
Life in Deep Ellum Benefit Performance, Muscle Memory Dance Theatre, Dallas, TX
Dallas VideoFest, Dallas, TX
New York City International Film Festival, New York, NY
Barefoot Brigade Dance Festival, Muscle Memory Dance Theatre, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
Panels
2012 What the #$%& do you do with an art degree?, panelist
1.2 Million Stories: State of the Emerging Arts, panelist
Selected Bibliography
Richards, Ryder. “Art Reviews: Why You Should Avoid Going to Galleries After a Day at The Museum.” D Magazine. August 8, 2012.
Hamilton, Brentney. “The ‘Outlaw’ Collective Muscle Nation is Back, and That’s Good for Dallas Art.” Dallas Observer. July 31, 2012.
Richards, Ryder. “Gallery Hopping: Reviews of Shows at Oliver Francis, Angstrom, CentralTrak, And More.” D Magazine. July 9, 2012.
Hamilton, Brentney. “If I had a Million: Ideas to Inspire and Improve from Artists in the Trenches.” Dallas Observer. June 12, 2012.
Hamilton, Brentney. “On Criticism: Fostering a Constructive Dialogue for Dallas Arts.” Dallas Observer. May 25, 2012.
Laughlin, Jamie. “Performance Art Wins: I Fall on My Own Sword at CentralTrak.” Dallas Observer. May 21, 2012.
Lewis, Betsy. “HARAKIRI: To Die For Performances at CentralTrak.” Glasstire.com. April 25, 2012.
Hamilton, Brentney. “Little Death, Big O: CentralTrak’s HARAKIRI Series Launches Tomorrow.” DallasObserver. April 20, 2012.
Lewis, Betsy. “Flex-Us [In Cooperation with Muscle Nation] at Ro2 Art.” Glasstire.com. March 7, 2012.
Hamilton, Brentney. “Muscle Nation Wants to Pump [clap] You Up at Ro2.” Dallas Observer. March 2, 2012.
Mendoza, Manuel. “Danielle Georgiou debuts her new dance company in Love and Vices.” The Dallas Morning News.
February 20, 2011.
Mosley, Christopher. “Art Review and Photos: The Raw Spectacle of 9 Cents a Copy at CentralTrak.” D Magazine. May 2, 2012.
Putnam, Margaret. “Guns and Roses: Danielle Georgiou Dance Group has both, and more, in ‘Love and Vices’.” TheaterJones.com.
February 13, 2011.
Putnam, Margaret. “Training Day.” TheaterJones.com. November 12, 2011.
___. North Texas Business for Culture and the Arts Leadership Arts Alumni Association Newsletter. 2009.
Spiller, Buster. “SATER takes risk with condensed Romeo and Juliet.” Examiner.com. August 2, 2009.
Leverett, Michelle. “UTA Dance Ensemble overcomes hardship.” The Shorthorn. September 2, 2008.
Stevens, Sue. “Follow the Leaders: Danielle Georgiou.” UT Arlington Magazine. 2007.
Shoultz, Angela. “Next-Generation Leaders.” The Shorthorn. September 26, 2006.
Publications
Georgiou, Danielle. The Politics of State Public Arts Funding. 2008.
Georgiou, Danielle. “Come On, Come, Green Light:” A modern dance interpretation of the “New
Woman.” Sojourn – A Journal of the Arts presents The Best of UTD. 2010.
Georgiou, Danielle. “Humanity Dancing: The Evolution of Black Dance.” Mason/Rhynes Productions/KERA Art & Seek. March 9, 2009. Georgiou, Danielle. “The Literary Jester: An Interview with Christopher Moore.” Sojourn -- A Journal of the Arts. 2009.
Residencies & Collectives
2011-Present CentralTrak, University of Texas at Dallas Artist Residency, Dallas, TX
2011-Present IN COOPERATION WITH MUSCLE NATION.A Collective, Dallas, TX
2011-Present Slik Stockings, Performance Art Duo, Dallas, TX
Dance Experience
2011-Present DGDG (Danielle Georgiou Dance Company), Artistic Director, Dallas, TX
2011-Present Contemporary Ballet Dallas, Company Member, Dallas, TX
2012 Eastfield College—Theatre Arts, Choreographer for The Wizard of Oz, Mesquite, TX
2012 Dallas Neo-Classical Ballet, Guest Choreographer, Dallas, TX
2011-12 Richland College, Dance Department, Guest Artist, Dallas, TX
2008-11 Muscle Memory Dance Theatre, Collective Member/PR Specialist, Dallas, TX
2010 University of Texas at Dallas Dance Ensemble, Guest Choreographer/Performer, Richardson, TX
National Performance Network: Annual Conference, Showcased Artist, Dallas, TX
Theatre Experience
2012 I Met You and I Screamed, Actress, Festival of Independent Theatres, Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas, TX
Flesh World, Dancer/Movement Coach, 500 Singleton Bvld, Dallas, TX
2010 Twilight, Los Angeles: 1994, Assistant Director/Movement Coach, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2009 Romeo and Juliet, Choreographer, Dallas Hub Theater, Dallas, TX
Teaching Experience
2011-Present Eastfield College, Mesquite, TX
2010-Present University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2009-Present Richland College, Dallas, TX
2007-Present University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
Awards
2009 Patricia A. Porter Arts Management Fellowship (Communities Foundation of Texas
University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
Armstrong Fellowship, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX
2008 Highest GPA with Most Credit Hours (Political Science Masters Program), University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2006-08 Honors College's Bridge to Graduate School Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2004-06 Goolsby Leadership Academy Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2005 Dance Ensemble Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2002-06 Freshman Honors Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2002-04 Honors College's Access Logistics Scholarship, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
