These Walls Sing

Architecture and music differ in their relationships to time and space. Though time and space are inherent in both disciplines, architecture creates patterns and forms in space where music creates patterns and forms in time. With These Walls Sing, Seen Performance will explore this difference by thawing the "frozen music" of architectural design to create a physical space inside of music. The audience will listen to the music not by sitting in one place while it passes them in time, but, as performers, by moving through a designed space containing the music. As they pass through each part of the space, they will hear a different layer of sound. Since moving through space also means moving through time, when they arrive at the exit they will have heard the entire piece of music. The speed at which they move and subtle variations in each person's route through the space will give everyone a different, personalized experience of the piece.

We will be developing These Walls Sing through the end of the year, announcing show dates + venues in early 2009. Please visit here often to follow the process of getting from here to there.

An update

Hi friends, after all the videos of our process we've been posting here's a quick update on Box Shy, our first piece in The PARTY PROJECT.

We started this piece layering ideas on one another's through media we could put online. To remind folks, I started the round, sending to Shana without commentary a video that explores themes that I often return to when I don't know where to start with a piece -playing with being seen, being still, playing with taking charge of a limited space.

Shana ran with the idea of "graphic" representation that we're using in our process for These Walls Sing - transforming my movement in the video frame into lines --frozen and alive at the same time.

David worked from Shana's animation (without the video) to create a score that he can perform live, making additional composition choices in the moment.

So with the "piece" at this stage we came together to discuss how to turn this into a performance off the internet, since the idea is to bring you into it at the next party you invite us to!

The conversation kinda started all over the place and suggestions and solution and new problems were tossed about until we had scrolls of paper and a studio date. The clip in the previous post is from our rehearsal where we put it all together. What you don't see here are the audience (you) giving shape to our performance space and unrolling 50' of Shana's drawings as David and I also play with time and moment.

Thanks for watching!

Box Shy rehearsal

Here's an excerpt from our rehearsal for Box Shy of The PARTY PROJECT. We added an "audience" since the full set up for this piece has the audience surrounding a box performing area --with four volunteers unscrolling Shana's painting (which you don't see here - check out the "Shana adds a layer" videos for her sketches). David and Esther are both making their performance/composition choices live, though the structure is set.

Click to Play

what is seen performance?

A few words from founding members David Morneau, Esther Palmer, and Shana Burns on what makes them Seen Performance. Enjoy!

Click to Play

Box Shy - the video version

Here David adds the third layer in our round robin collaboration to make the first work of our The PARTY PROJECT. From here we go to the studio to turn this collaboration into a performance.

AUDITIONS!

Seen Performance is looking for 4 women dancers/performers for future productions of their show on the other side of the glass plate, she wore nothing. Please read about the project here.

We are looking for women with previous movement (dance or otherwise) and performance experience. We want to work with women who are eager to contribute ideas in the process of exploring subtlety and presence in their performances.

Girl 2 - seeking 1 woman with strong performance presence and experience. This role demands attention to subtle details of posture, facial expression, and small gestures.

FOH Ladies 1, 2, + 3 - seeking 3 women with solid contemporary dance experience, a flair for fashion, and an ease with speaking, mingling, and getting the attention of a group. These women will act as a group, interacting with the audience and setting the tone for the piece.

Weekly rehearsals will begin as soon as the roles are cast. Performances are expected Fall 2008 and Winter + Spring 2009. FOH Ladies can expect a month of rehearsals, Girl 2 one-two months. A small stipend may be available for performances. Other compensation includes free modern dance classes in LIC with Esther Palmer (9/08).

To make an audition appointment, please email us with a brief statement about your performing background and your interest in the piece, along with any questions you may have.

Thanks!

shana adds a layer - B

Shana brings some animation to our first piece in the PARTY PROJECT. Here is, you guessed it, version.

shana adds a layer - A

Shana's layer to our first piece in the PARTY PROJECT. Here is version A.

Box Shy - The Party Project, #1

While we like musing in the big comfy chair at shana's place (see the what is performance? video), we value showing just as much as talking.

And so... our latest project is PARTY GAMES. And it's in your neighborhood (or your backyard -- invite us to your next party and there we will be!)

We are developing a piece round-robin style, each of us getting 5 days to add a layer and develop the work before we polish it together just in time to share it during a local house party, putting performance into social mingling like any other conversation.

Esther started this round:


I was working in the studio and decided to play with the edges of the frame, using 4 $20 bills to mark the camera's space. I edited this down to draw attention to entering, exiting, and being in the frame. I added voice over to bring out the inner thought process that can go on when I'm making stuff up in the studio.

Thoughts? Questions? Leave us your comments and we'll respond!

what is performance, anyway?

These Walls Sing

Architecture and music differ in their relationships to time and space. Though time and space are inherent in both disciplines, architecture creates patterns and forms in space where music creates patterns and forms in time. With These Walls Sing, Seen Performance will explore this difference by thawing the "frozen music" of architectural design to create a physical space inside of music. The audience will listen to the music not by sitting in one place while it passes them in time, but, as performers, by moving through a designed space containing the music. As they pass through each part of the space, they will hear a different layer of sound. Since moving through space also means moving through time, when they arrive at the exit they will have heard the entire piece of music. The speed at which they move and subtle variations in each person's route through the space will give everyone a different, personalized experience of the piece.

We will be developing These Walls Sing through the end of the year, announcing show dates + venues in early 2009. Please visit here often to follow the process of getting from here to there.

An update

Hi friends, after all the videos of our process we've been posting here's a quick update on Box Shy, our first piece in The PARTY PROJECT.

We started this piece layering ideas on one another's through media we could put online. To remind folks, I started the round, sending to Shana without commentary a video that explores themes that I often return to when I don't know where to start with a piece -playing with being seen, being still, playing with taking charge of a limited space.

Shana ran with the idea of "graphic" representation that we're using in our process for These Walls Sing - transforming my movement in the video frame into lines --frozen and alive at the same time.

David worked from Shana's animation (without the video) to create a score that he can perform live, making additional composition choices in the moment.

So with the "piece" at this stage we came together to discuss how to turn this into a performance off the internet, since the idea is to bring you into it at the next party you invite us to!

The conversation kinda started all over the place and suggestions and solution and new problems were tossed about until we had scrolls of paper and a studio date. The clip in the previous post is from our rehearsal where we put it all together. What you don't see here are the audience (you) giving shape to our performance space and unrolling 50' of Shana's drawings as David and I also play with time and moment.

Thanks for watching!

Box Shy rehearsal

Here's an excerpt from our rehearsal for Box Shy of The PARTY PROJECT. We added an "audience" since the full set up for this piece has the audience surrounding a box performing area --with four volunteers unscrolling Shana's painting (which you don't see here - check out the "Shana adds a layer" videos for her sketches). David and Esther are both making their performance/composition choices live, though the structure is set.

Click to Play

what is seen performance?

A few words from founding members David Morneau, Esther Palmer, and Shana Burns on what makes them Seen Performance. Enjoy!

Click to Play

Box Shy - the video version

Here David adds the third layer in our round robin collaboration to make the first work of our The PARTY PROJECT. From here we go to the studio to turn this collaboration into a performance.

AUDITIONS!

Seen Performance is looking for 4 women dancers/performers for future productions of their show on the other side of the glass plate, she wore nothing. Please read about the project here.

We are looking for women with previous movement (dance or otherwise) and performance experience. We want to work with women who are eager to contribute ideas in the process of exploring subtlety and presence in their performances.

Girl 2 - seeking 1 woman with strong performance presence and experience. This role demands attention to subtle details of posture, facial expression, and small gestures.

FOH Ladies 1, 2, + 3 - seeking 3 women with solid contemporary dance experience, a flair for fashion, and an ease with speaking, mingling, and getting the attention of a group. These women will act as a group, interacting with the audience and setting the tone for the piece.

Weekly rehearsals will begin as soon as the roles are cast. Performances are expected Fall 2008 and Winter + Spring 2009. FOH Ladies can expect a month of rehearsals, Girl 2 one-two months. A small stipend may be available for performances. Other compensation includes free modern dance classes in LIC with Esther Palmer (9/08).

To make an audition appointment, please email us with a brief statement about your performing background and your interest in the piece, along with any questions you may have.

Thanks!

shana adds a layer - B

Shana brings some animation to our first piece in the PARTY PROJECT. Here is, you guessed it, version.

shana adds a layer - A

Shana's layer to our first piece in the PARTY PROJECT. Here is version A.

Box Shy - The Party Project, #1

While we like musing in the big comfy chair at shana's place (see the what is performance? video), we value showing just as much as talking.

And so... our latest project is PARTY GAMES. And it's in your neighborhood (or your backyard -- invite us to your next party and there we will be!)

We are developing a piece round-robin style, each of us getting 5 days to add a layer and develop the work before we polish it together just in time to share it during a local house party, putting performance into social mingling like any other conversation.

Esther started this round:


I was working in the studio and decided to play with the edges of the frame, using 4 $20 bills to mark the camera's space. I edited this down to draw attention to entering, exiting, and being in the frame. I added voice over to bring out the inner thought process that can go on when I'm making stuff up in the studio.

Thoughts? Questions? Leave us your comments and we'll respond!

what is performance, anyway?