Image credit: Niamh Donnelly, 2023

[Image description: A series of three black and white photos, showing dancers in their rehearsal studio. In the first image, from left to right, five dancers are visible from waist down, towards the back of the image. They are stood in a half circle. In the second image a group of three dancers take are centered in the shot, they have been caught in motion arms outstretched and feet raised. In the final image there are several pairs of legs visible, again caught in motion with feet moving. The dancer at the fron of the image is wearing patterned leggings.]

The three-part soundscape was created by artist Michelle Duxbury. It was made by converting photographs and video she took of the dancers in their studio, into sounds that formed the basis of the soundscape compositions. The dancers were then invited to create three choreographed responses.

DITTO

A heavily distorted sound fades in. It crashes repeatedly in the background, like waves breaking. A phasing stringed instrument plays up and down a scale, with some very short interruptions timed along with a repeated note that plays in the background, creating a marching rhythm. The sound fades out.

DITTO DITTO

A high-pitched chime rapidly playing a downward scale fades in. It has a heavy reverb/echo on it, sounding mystical and sparkly, and creates the sense of falling. A quiet phasing drone in the background creates a rhythm. Half way through, the chime changes to an upward scale, creating a sense of rising. The sound fades out. 

DITTO DITTO DITTO

The phasing strings merge with the chimes and drone, each running up and down a scale, phasing in and out with each other. Throughout there is a static undercurrent that creates an uncomfortably familiar sensation, like that of tuning a stationless radio. The sound fades out.

This written description of the soundscapes is also available and can be downloaded as a pdf document and a word document.

A short film by videographer Michael Godsall documents the three choreographed responses to the soundscapes from MeshDance.

A transcript of this Audio Description is available and can be downloaded as a pdf document and a word document.

A site specific installation was created for the launch event at The Tetley on Wednesday 22nd March. It included a series of pieces made in collaboration between artist Michelle Duxbury and photographer Niamh Donnelly, who have been documenting the development of DITTO. The installation will explores repetition, movement and sequencing.

Image credit: Niamh Donnelly, 2023

[Image description: a series of three black and white photos of two dancers rehearsing a duet piece in their studio. The two dancers have arms outstretched as if they are going to hug each other, moving closer to each other as the series progresses.]