I recently attended a 4 day workshop with Tim Gruchy as part of SEAM2011. SEAM focuses on new directions in performance and technology. It was rejuvenating and inspiring to be around a wonderful group of artists from all over the country who have similar interests in the potential for immersive technologies, installation, new instruments and synaesthetics. I will write more about it when I have some time. Here is a snippet of some experiments with me playing frame drum and moving through a ‘kinect’ sensor system set up by Toby Knyvett with live visuals being created and projected by Kellie O’Dempsey..
The sound design was by me created using the ‘kinect’ sensors feeding off an Isadora set up by me (with lot’s of help from Toby and Tim). Great to be offered a funded place in this workshop!
Meanwhile workshops in Melbourne and Canberra with Suraya Hilal went well. Inspiring as ever: ) I will be performing with her and 3 Australian dancers as part of ‘Alchemy’ at the Belconnen Arts Centre on the 15th and 16th of October.
I am excited to be venturing out for adventures in September-October to run workshops & also to drum for Dance Workshops with Suraya Hilal. Head to the Hilal Dance Australia site for information on the Dance and head to my Rhythm, Drumming & Dance website for more information on the Drumming. Feel free to contact with any questions or thoughts on it : )
My frame drum piece exploring rhythms in 10. Performed at The National Gallery of Australia in February 2011 as part of ‘Fragments’ with Hilal Dance Australia and The Mozaic Dance Company. The drum is from David Roman Drums and is gorgeous.
I am in one of those in between moments : Another big project finished : deciding which focus to bring to the fore : allowing ideas to filter : sifting through my consciousness : I am working on the documentation of “The Sound of Everything” Here is the start:
A frame drum piece- Stills taken from a video shot by Carolyn Nowaczyk.
Photos by Nina Kourea of Ruth Allen’s installation for “The Sound of Everything”. I spoke, danced and drummed infront of these water filled plastic bags. I then took a pin and made small holes in the bags leaving the sound of water as it landed on the ground. Everything is permeable- The sound we make is dependent on our form- and the sounds we make change our form. We are sound : ) Photos by Nina Kourea
I am dancing, drumming, singing and performing my new piano piece ‘Kandinsky’ at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra this week. The seeds first appeared in May last year through working with dancer Suraya Hilal. It has since been further developed on my own and then with dancer Sarah Hamilton. I am excited to show it and excited by the prospect of working with a bigger musical ensemble to bring it to life down the track.
A compilation of instrumental works created for theatre, dance, film and installation works 2000-2010. Listen and buy from Bandcamp : ) Cleaning out the sonic cupboard feels good : )
hmmmmmm really ? Over 500,000 people have watched my drum clip on You tube? I am in the process of making more clips and developing easy digital formats for people to learn the teaching methods i have come up with. They are a kind of translation of the Egyptian rhythm language i have learnt from Ibrahim el Minyawi : Translated into little pieces and training methods that work for people who have not been born into the tradition. He really is the most gorgeous player i have ever come across by far! Here is the example of my playing.
I recently worked on a project with Glass/Installation artist Ruth Allen. She made me a ‘resonating vessel’. A glass vessel based on the idea of playing resonance percussively. The vessel is sung into and then i use my hand to shape and play with the resonance. We had the chance to explore the idea for her opening at the Glassworks in December. I did some movement/performance as part of it too as well as doing the sound design/music for the installation. Below are some images from it taken by Angus Kendon. I am looking forward to developing the project further.
Quite a number of my instrumental pieces and some songs are being used in this exhibit by collaborator and friend Sarah Moss at the Powerhouse museum this month. I also designed a surround sound soundscape to go with it. Check it out if you can.
