Microcinema
All Region NTSC DVD
Split
Sides is a work by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company with original music by
Radiohead and Sigur Rós. It stands out as a highly innovative and experimental
work using dance and music to explore new ways of experiencing the world. It is
based on the idea of chance and randomness and each piece is divided into two
parts. Each twenty minute part features one of two options for the different
creative elements of the piece: set design, costumes, lighting, music, and
choreography. The order in which each element appears during a given
performance is determined by an onstage dice roll before the performance,
captured on full screen for the live audience, certainly a very different
approach to a performance.
There
are some thirty two possible combinations for any performance. In addition to
Merce Cunningham's two choreographic segments, the work features two unique set
designs (one by Robert Heishman and one by Catherine Yass), two sets of
costumes (by James Hall), and two lighting plots (by James F. Ingalls).
Original scores, composed specifically for this collaboration by the British
alternative rock group Radiohead and the Icelandic experimentalist group Sigur
Rós, offer the two choices of music.
This
is a quite a unique two-disc DVD set. The viewer has the opportunity to
alternate soundtracks being offered four of the possible variations of the
work. Filmmaker Charles Atlas masterfully captures the dance with Merce close
at his side. Cunningham calls the films Split Sides 45 and Split Sides 46,
because they capture the 45th and 46th performances of this epic collaboration.
Contents:
Split Sides 45
Choreography
“A” followed by “B”
Music
in the basic presentation is Sigur Rós followed by Radiohead
Alternative
sound options are Radiohead followed by Sigur Rós or silent with the same dance
footage
Split Sides 46
Choreography
“B” followed by “A”
Music
in the basic presentation is Radiohead followed by Sigur Rós
Alternative
sound options are Sigur Rós followed by Radiohead or silent with the same dance
footage
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This
review will appear in Volume 2 No.4
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
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