Attack Theatre: R.A.M. (Random Accumulated Memories)
21 May 2010 by Emily Chiodo in Event
One of the most compelling components of Three Rivers Arts Festival is the patron experience. Sure, the collection of hand-crafted works of art is staggering and the lineup of mind-blowing music rivals some of the best in the country, but let’s be honest… if a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound? The Festival needs people! Without an influx of attendees to enjoy these offerings, it’s all in vain.
Most of my memories of the Festival are of simply strolling around, taking in the sights and sounds, marveling at the sheer number of things to see and do at any given moment. It has always been enlightening, relaxing and memorable. Never did I consider bringing along my video camera to document the Festival so that I could enjoy it later. I just wanted to enjoy it right then and there. It felt great.
With the explosion of technology that allows a camera and/or video camera to exist inside your mobile phone or be carried in a pocket normally reserved for, say, a stick of gum, it is so easy to document the special moments in our lives, and it is because of that ease that we do more documenting now than ever before.
This new reality has a subsequent phenomenon: people are trying so hard to capture the moment that they end up missing the experience. Local performance innovator Attack Theatre explores and ponders this topic in a new contemporary dance work, R.A.M (Random Accumulated Memories).
Photo Credit: Sarah Higgins
“Attack Theatre loves technology; how it integrates with our lives and with our work as artists,” says Michele de la Reza, co-founder and managing artistic director. “We started noticing these moments in our own lives, for instance with a new child, where we were running to grab our camera phones to capture something special only to find our batteries were run down or our memory cards were full. This got us thinking…”
“The experience is what is important,” she says. “Dance is such an ephemeral, visceral art form - it’s a good way to help drive home the message and remind viewers to live in the experience.”
Ironically, to help in the accumulation of memories, the piece will incorporate a live-feed camera to capture the exact moment and transmit it onto a television screen. Live music will be performed by the Attack Theatre band, led by musical director and superb solo cellist and pianist Dave Eggar. This is a wonderful opportunity for people to enjoy both dance and original music.
The work was commissioned by Three Rivers Arts Festival and Gateway to the Arts who were seeking a new program appropriate for students for their 2010-11 school season. However, it will have its premiere at the Festival in front of a diverse audience of all ages.
Michele reminded me that Attack Theatre has a great history with the Festival. For more than a decade, they have performed pieces and even led activities in the Creativity Zone. “The Festival is, in particular, a place of experimentation. It has allowed us to take risks and to learn in front of an audience, particularly from the reactions. Our product is a living, breathing entity, and the impact of the Festival community can truly change the piece.”
R.A.M (Random Accumulated Memories) will be performed at the Trust Arts Education Center five times during the Festival. That’s five opportunities to enjoy the moments as they unfold. But don’t worry… we won’t tell anyone if you break out your camera phone and post a few shots to help us spread the word.