Dancing In the Dark & Digital Challenges

I have just finished a technical rehearsal in preparation, for further rehearsals the following day.

It has gone well and working in the actual space with Technicians and later on with other digital creatives. To perform and share an extract/work in progress to a specially invited audience. With humming video screens in effect,this has been a great , a very new experience as a live performer !

A good amount of patience, care diligence , understanding, communication skills, is needed working with a range of digital equipment . Technology changes, at a rapid rate, components prices vary widely in price and functions. A specific digital brief and spec , with back up plans b's is also essential in the event of any mishaps, or the expected gremlins -as I call them that can turn up anywhere ,there is a conglomeration of electronic items in close proximity . Flexibility continues to be key , to be able to adapt very quickly and with some confidence, for problem solving at a rapid rate . Whilst remaining very positive but coolly realistic - not for one minute losing the vision of your work . Strong team work and collaboration, comes to the fore here and highlights - clearly , the interdependency , support of creative colleagues - in a joint endeavour . It is however a real buzz ,sharing our individual mutual satisfaction and delight in the work. As as it begins to take beautiful shape before our very eyes - is what is all about !

Walkiing the Stage 'Plank' Musing Musically with Logic

Whirl wind of a week testing filming and to finalize 'the Diva's Dressing Gown' at the very least for the forthcoming sharing . Everything is becoming so real and taking shape by turns. This is all incredibly exciting and nerve racking all at the same time . Recently the Creative Team and myself did a site visit to the theatre (for staging /technical purposes) , where we will be doing our first sharing of project work to date. Just standing in the space, like I had never been in there before - empty bar us and other theatre practitioners. A black box into a black ocean of space ...sink or swim -either way one of the primary purposes of the sharing next week is to LEARN !

Today was very enjoyable, the first music set down for the piece-a wonderful melange of strong west african polyrhythms , urban/contemporary with touches of Indian and Chinese motifs. An verall feel of elegant grandeur and mystery loneliness even ? The genesis of an overarching theme for a soundscape begins.... A musical 'gumbo', much like the physical theatre choreography ,to be further developed -very thrilling ! I am very impressed sounds available on Logic software configured to my Mac computer.

Here's a definition of the word gumbo - we use it to mean a intercultural mix of different influences, cultural traditions, practices art forms e.g Africa India China - as we in 'welcome the world' within 'our world' within the project.

Testing Testing 123 - Digital Visual Blast Off !

After holiday inertia coughs and colds, Sean and Andy (digital performance platform visuals and lighting design respectively with myself . Have done us proud with testing all the technical kit acquired Mac Mini etc) and electronic bits and gummings, in preparation for our first sharing , work in progress , at a theatre later this month. In addition to it also being preparatory work for our project installation later in the year at a local digital media centre. The three days testing at De Montfort Performing Arts Centre of Excellence Studio included filming footage of a character solo dance sequence with Louise and Sally , also for the sharing . All this has gone really well and I had a chance to really experience fully and not just visualize, the whole performance staging area , in relation to the different screens with the lighting. A new and challenging experience having not performed with moving digital visual in quite this way before. It presents new challenges around staging movement i.e. blocking and lighting. See more here Sean's Blog http://www.seanclark.me.uk/the-loneliness-of-the-long-dista.html