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dance by Joanne F. Villeneuve The Kiss Project: More Than a Mere Peck A,kiss is just a kiss. Or is it? There's the first kiss. The kiss goodbye. The pivotal kiss, a kiss which sends thoughts and actions reeling into a tailspin. Kisses. Some are soon forgotten, but others burn in our memory forever. For the 1997 edition of the Kiss Project. Ian Brown, a West Vancouver writer, created a short work in which his two characters discuss this primarily human form of expression. What Brown fondly calls his "playlet" sprang into mind when he read an ad in the newspaper, requesting dramatic submissions for the Kiss Project. This is the first work he has submitted in his long, but private, writing career. In his one-scene play, a verbal exchange begins with the description of a kiss received from a dog and evolves into an enumeration of different kisses, which both characters have enjoyed in their lives. The conversation soon focusses though, on the pivotal kiss, the one kiss which above all others, stands distinctly apart. Brown has obviously thought long and hard about this. "It's a kiss which [one of his characters] has not been able to forget." explains Brown, "because of the way it rtioved him to a different place. I honestly believe that anyone who has been lucky enough to have some kissing experiences in their life will, I hope, have experienced one of those types of kisses that they will always remember. As to what effect that will have had on their life is completely dependent on other things, other than the two people and the kiss itself. It depends on their belief system, their interest, and their ability to think rationally as opposed to instinctively. There's something about a kiss which taps into our intuitive understanding about the way the world is and the world can be. I'm hoping that everybody has had one of those and they'll relate." Brown's piece is to be part of the "Creations," short, new collaborative efforts created specifically for this year's Kiss Project. These meld the ideas of playwrights, choreographers, dancers, actors, and directors. The public can watch the creative process in action at the dress rehearsals. Each piece is streamlined, polished, and then "collaged" to create an evening of performances. These run from February 11-23. Each of these presentations must evolve over five minutes, contain the theme of the kiss and the expression of a kiss, be it discussed or actually exchanged. This year, each of the pieces must also include a moment of stillness. Because of the nature of the Creations, much of Brown's play is still rather ambiguous. Dance will be integrated in his work and having had virtually no experience with that medium, he has ensured that the parameters--the gender of the characters, the potential exchange of a kiss, the conclusion of the action--are somewhat unformed. He has allowed this freedom for changes and additions in his narrative to enable a fruitful collaboration with the director and the choreographer. Brown's creative voice will nevertheless be heard through the development of the dialogue, leaving room for a danced interpretation of the pivotal kiss. The creator and artistic director of the Kiss Project. North Shore resident Judith Marcuse, says a kiss is a fundamental connection between individuals. Symbolically, the kiss, as explored in the Kiss Project, has become a connection between the public and Vancouver's different arts groups. Marcuse explains that she is concerned by "the fact that their [local artists'] work, which [I] considers to be critical for the well-being of a community, was not being seen and people were not really interested." Originally, Marcuse's primary goal was to aid and encourage the preservation of the arts in our community. Acutely aware of the decrease in attendance at live arts presentations. Marcuse developed the Project as an innovative means to During the seven-week program of the Kiss Project, local dancer Mary-Louise Albert (above) will be premiering a solo piece choreographed January 22-25. For more information Photo: David Cooper. by Peter Bingham at the First Kiss opening shows which run call: 606-6425.