Elyse Morckel & Denzel D. Washington
Choreographer Elyse Morckel and Cinematographer Denzel D. Washington Premiere Wanderlust Blue
The film Wanderlust Blue transforms the artistic medium of dance through the lens of the camera. Born from the writing of Carl Sagan’s “Pale Blue Dot” and Elyse Morckel’s original dance piece VOID, Wanderlust Blue ruminates on humanity’s struggle with the notion that one’s existence is not the center of the universe. Filmed by Denzel D. Washington, the narrative follows BLUE, the seeming protagonist. However, as the story unfolds, a change of perspective drives the thought: is BLUE the only heart to exist in the endless stretches of space and time? Morckel’s choreography and Washington’s film is a Visual/Mover experiment embodying themes of space, technology, and the human need for exploration and fulfillment; a desire never satisfied when one is simply searching for oneself. Elyse Morckel and Denzel Washington were selected as Ann Amer Brennan Residents.
“To address a disconnect between dance arts and the community, we [used] the medium of film and production technology to invite a new scope of audiences to see dance through a different, more accessible lens.” – Elyse Morckel and Denzel Washington
About the Artists Elyse Morckel and Denzel D. Washington:
Elyse Morckel is a dance artist from Akron, Ohio. She earned her BFA from The Ohio State University with concentrations in choreography and dance technology. In 2017, she joined The Movement Project and later became the Associate Director. Morckel has performed the choreographic works of Pam Tanowitz, Kimberly Bartosik, Rebecca Leuszler, Megan Gargano, Irene Honora, Grace Nicklos & Liz Conway. Her choreographic projects include in the end, this is a victory dance (2018, restaged 2022), (6) Vignettes of Drama (2019), Sixes & 7’s (2021), Coddiwomple (2021), It’s a Game We Play (2022), and VOID (2023). Her solo work Sixes & 7’s was selected for the 2023 Ohio Dance Festival concert. She teaches pedagogy, composition, and somatics classes throughout Ohio.
Denzel Washington is a professional cinematographer and photographer. Currently, he works for University Hospitals and runs his own photography and video LLC. Washington produced and shot a nationwide commercial for the NFL BROWNS in collaboration with University Hospitals. He was the Cinematographer and Producer for 412 Thrives Cancer Awareness Campaign and won a silver telly award for his independently produced music video, So Long. Washington also worked on productions with clients like the Cavs, Playhouse Square, The Cleveland Ballet, Purell, and VITAMIX. Washington specializes in the art of storytelling and artistic media development and uses his expertise to educate, inspire, and help others connect on a deeper level.