Jody Sperling had a unique opportunity to participate in a polar science mission to the Chukchi Sea as the first-ever choreographer-in-residence aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Healy icebreaker. She was invited by Woods Hole oceanographer Dr. Robert Pickart as part of an outreach team on climate science communication. During the journey, she danced on the ice cap at a dozen ice deployments. The footage from these on site performances was edited into the short film Ice Floe (honored by the Creative Climate Awards) where Sperling embodies a timelapse of ice morphology. Sperling’s work Ice Cycle was inspired by this expedition and translates the experience to the stage.

Read more about Sperling’s journey and the science mission on this journey on the Arctic Spring Blog.

FILM CREDITS:
Choreography & Performance: Jody Sperling
Video Editing: Ben Harden & Amanda Kowalski
Camera: Frank Bahr, Pierre Coupel & Jody Sperling
Music: Beo Morales & Brooks Williams
Costume Design: Mary Jo Mecca & Gina Nagy Burns in collaboration with Jody Sperling
Costume Construction: Mary Jo Mecca | Costume Painting: Gina Nagy Burns

Special thanks to the entire HL1401 crew and science party, especially Robert Pickart, Chris Polashenski, the Taukuvik team, BMCM Tim Sullivan, Executive Officer Stanclik and Captain Reeves. and the National Science Foundation.