VITAL SPARK PERFORMANCE ART GROUP is an interdisciplinary and collaborative ensemble founded and directed by Erika Schmidt in 1995. Her projects with Vital Spark continue to explore new genres of performance through the integration of dance, theater, soundscape, literature, kinetic sculpture, and video.

Vital Spark’s projects explore and stimulate an exchange of ideas and methods that may challenge conventional concepts of theater. Through a unique fusion of performing and visual arts, Vital Spark presents a charged artistic vision that creates a memorable and visceral journey for the viewer.

Vital Spark’s performance projects are produced in traditional theater venues as well as in museums, galleries, and performance festivals. Erika has received numerous awards and commissions for her work with Vital Spark.

• Elon College, Elon, NC
• San Fransisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco, CA
• Graphic Studio at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
• Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL.
• Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL.
• University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
• Prague Fest, Prague, Czech Republic
• Concorso Internazionale de Danza, Cecena, Italy
• Dance Gran Prix, Barcelona, Spain
• Jazz Dance World Congress, Chicago, IL

• Current/Channel, Valentine Out of Season 2008
• Resolutio, The Mandarin Project, The Architects 2007
• Engram 2006
• The Painted Bird 2005
• Rhymes with Silver, Wireless Caller 2004
• Rah, Rah Brouhaha, Some of These Days 2003
• Wavelength, Igitur 2002
• Random Acts of Dance, The Satchmo Project 2001
• Rumi Jatna 2000
• The Message, Round... Go... Round 1999
• Trance Gong 1998
• Compound Eye 1997
• How in Salt’s Desert is it Possible to Bloom? 1996
• Riverboat Journey 1995

Erika and Gary have been collaborating together since Vital Spark’s inception along with numerous artist including:

• Michael Lawlor; dancer, choreographer,
• Lisa Erdman; artist
• Robert Phillips; guitarist, composer
• Corry Rankin; cellist
• Nigel Phang; artist, performer
• Eva Schmidt; dancer, choreographer
• Paul Hughes; actor
• Kiira Schmidt; dancer
• Kevin Smith; actor/dancer
• Toby Kaufmann-Buhler; composer
• Cathy Salmon; poet, dancer
• Ann Hutchins; vocalist
• Camille McClellan; costume designer
• Charley Massey; sound design