Blue/Blau/
Bleu Blog

 Saturday 15th February

Sharing rehearsal in front of the audience at six thirty tonight. The afternoon is used for fixing the beginning of Yoel’s solo on the hi-hat. 3 sections as comments on the Goethe text. A faster part is choreographed for the beginning of the landscape section. And the start of Iva’s Solo in the beginning must be smother a calmer; the Five minutes part starts with heat
From the drummer’s side… good luck for tonight!

That’s the End of the blog about the work on the Dance piece Blue at The Tanzhaus Basel.
On Wednesday the 19th of February will be the Opening Night so wish us all the best !!!

Thank you for attending this Blog yours Xavier Zuber.

Friday 14th February

Rehearsal in the afternoon before the First run through in the evening. Joachim checks on the Solo of Iva. We call it cleaning (German: putzen) means the movements/steps are looked over and are fixed so they get clean and precise. Example: How is the front feet set on the floor after a step, and so on… Tom the sound designer records the preset parts of the music from the part where the solo is retaken by Iva and Yoel plays the different instruments of the Drum Set.

Andreas Greiner and Tom Schneider are fixing the cues when the sounds are played during the run through tonight.
Game day: First run through with light and costume! We record and time it to see if the order and the dynamic of the performance works…

Thursday 13th February

Team meeting with the artists: Question: What is Missing? How is the end?
When are the moments of relation between Iva and Yoel.
Yoel needs an hour with Joachim to work entrance walks and body language.
Sound cues need to be transferred into the lighting cues so that Andreas can run the show on one computer.

Cue 1 – Stückbeginn = Goethe 1 (läuft aus)

Cue 2 – nach Blackout = Solo Iva (läuft bis Crossfade Goethe 2)

Cue 3 – Ende Solo Iva / Black – Crossfade = Goethe 2 (läuft aus)

Cue 4 – Goethe 2 / Black – Licht = FiveMinutes + Click Five Minutes (läuft aus)

Cue 5 – Iva und Yoel legen sich hin = Spa Radique (läuft aus)

Cue 6 – Yoel Rimshots auf der Bassdrum = Mirrorpart + Click Mirrorpart (läuft aus)

Joachim suggest a new beginning of the piece. Yoel would like to skip the choreographed solo with him on the drums. Tom suggests using just the hi-hat. So, we start in Blue light from Top with the Goethe text Iva watching the blue light from above till Yoel reacts by playing on the hi-hat to the text:

«Just as we like to chase a pleasant object that flees from us, so we like to look at blue, not because it advances towards us, but because it draws us along with it. This color has a strange and almost inexpressible effect on the eye. As a color, it is an energy; however, it is on the negative side and, in its highest purity, is, as it were, an alluring nothing. There is something contradictory about the attraction and calmness of the view.»

We go on then into the Solo of Iva with Yoel staying and practicing five minutes and the beginning of the piece on the hi-hat.

Wednesday 12th February

Normal rehearsal fixing recordings and checking the solos of Iva and Yoel by Tom Schneider.

Tuesday 11th February

The set arrived today a big hanging case in which the lights are in… we need a new Planning concerning the lighting rehearsals, run-throughs and sound design.

We start the rehearsal with the Five minutes part in original sound played by Yoel on the Drum Set in front then we go into the second part of the Five Minutes we need a new spacing the instruments are divided from each other and placed all around the space.
Iva must find her way without using the walls of the theatre unlike as it was in the studio.

Vanessa our Head of Finance and Administration is implementing the Bar in the room beside Silo 3 the drinks are defined for the menu card: It is decided that the cast gets free drink and food on the opening night.

Afternoon rehearsal till six in the section Five minutes Part two doesn’t work we have to change some elements are redundant and not interesting any more after Five minutes, so we take the parts we like and put them together new till we got the junction for the next section Retake Solo Iva mirror landscape.

Monday 10th February

Iva works with Joachim all parts: Five Minutes, Solo, Part two Five Minutes
In the studio checking steps and movements in detail; Quality and rhythm.

Yoel and Tom work the solo of Yoel through building up a rhythmical pattern over five instruments: the aspect on the choreography of the movements that he does while he is playing should be considered as big part of the solo.

Press Dossier is established with William Bejedi responsible of Press and Marketing.

Saturday 8th February

Spacing of the scenes in the theatre and looking at the transitions from one scene to each other so that the light designer Andreas Greiner ca see the settings of the instruments in the space.

New order/titles
Intro
Solo Iva
Solo Yoel
Goethe Blue
Five Minutes
Part two Five Minutes
Retake Solo Iva

Instruments transition fixed from the Five Minutes section to the Retake solo Iva section: Yoel takes 1. Tom 2. Snare 3. bass drum 4. hi-hat in front 5. hi-hat at the back.

Goethe Text about the blue color how should it be said by an actor of with an artificial voice from the AI? Should it be transmitted by a small loudspeaker on top of a skirt that is fixed on a modeling puppet? And can this puppet move on wheels into the room? Iva loves the idea.
Andreas is figuring out something with the technical staff.

Friday 7th February

Yoel tries Solo on a row of instruments the musical line is getting more and more complex.
Yoel needs to practice all beats on each percussion instruments for his solo; he needs more time to work his solo in the Tanzhaus Basel.

Mirror section new with composed music on the loop machine Yoel is playing one by one each perc. instrument which is recorded and looped immediately; so, he adds one sound on top to the other, then Iva dances between the instrument’s memories of movements.

The Dancing Skirt do we need it or is it a new chapter? Or a running gag?

Sketching the end. Does it end with the hi-hat solo with Yoel? How does Iva end? Impro?

Thursday 6th February

The eyes where are they looking? Joachim points out the importance of it; Yoel dances in the section course of obstacles floor combinations with Iva with to a silent pace.
Tom creates electronic sounds out of the spirituel world in contrast to the percussion sections played by Yoel; They appear like flying drones coming out of the silence followed by a fountain of new sounds.

Wednesday 5th February

Working the introduction on the cymbals hi-hat and drive
Iva more on clear structure and Yoel more loose rhythms on top
1. Silent – double up – four beats stop
2. Silent – double up – improvise

Working the Obstacle Course again with travelling movements for Yoel and finding the moments where they connect (video) still to find proper moves on the floor each of them but together (photo).

Tuesday 4th February

New section choreographed by Iva and Joachim called the Retake Solo Iva for the new mirror part.

Order of the piece discussed:
1. Intro with the cymbals
2. Solo 1 Iva
3. Solo Yoel
4. Skirt
5. Five minutes solo
6. Yoel miniatures and obstacle course
7. New Mirror Burn out into digital space

Xavier Zuber sends a Text by Goethe:

«Just as we like to chase a pleasant object that flees from us, so we like to look at blue, not because it advances towards us, but because it draws us along with it. This color has a strange and almost inexpressible effect on the eye. As a color, it is an energy; however, it is on the negative side and, in its highest purity, is, as it were, an alluring nothing. There is something contradictory about the attraction and calmness of the view.»

Try out with Yoel: Solo on five percussion instruments in a row: Hi-hat, Drive, tom, Big Drum and snare drum he plays all instruments with one rhythm; the task is to be a performer at the same time means to move between the drums in a elegant way moving Arms and feet in a choreography that speeds up at some time so the pause between the beats keep the same or gets shorter in relation to the distance between the drums.

Task for Yoel: put down the on score the time of the pauses that Iva must dance in the Five minutes section

Monday 3rd February

Working Material for movements and sounds mirror seqences Iva and Yoel plus Tom the sound designer.

Iva giving her preferences on the skirt watching Anne-Sophies Moodboard.

Friday the 31st of January

Intro both Iva and Yoel on the Cymbals four variations Crescendo, minimal, stopping each other, ping pong.

Five Minutes sequence to look on Iva’s Material, the Position of the Drum Set is put in front the percussionist is not allowed to sit;
Start of music with Yoel; Iva moves after the beats of the drum; Iva has to count in the score the pauses between the rhythms; Yoel creates rhythmic clusters as island into the silence.

Tom Schneider the sound designer plays sound delays coming out of the played rhythms picked up by a microphone.

Joachim suggested to put every single instrument of the Drum Set in a row, How does Yoel play each instrument? He rushes from left to right: playing… speedy loud sound lines.

New idea: What would the skirt/production say about blue? Who speaks? Dada texts? Ursonate?
Cloud in the sky? The skirt and the blue?

Thursday the 30th of January

Costume discussion about the Size and Model: A Deux piece with a large skirt? Or just a wide skirt to make big Figures thanks to the fabric.

7 min choreography on Iva’s Material of the positions in the mirror section.
A very fluent choreography in the space around the drums.

Wednesday the 29th of January

Iva works Material by herself; Yoel composing the Five Minutes section.
The Teaser is launched!

Tuesday the 28th of January

Working out of the positions in the mirror section and how Iva can enlarge the movements of the different positions in to the space. Joachim watches and offers choreographed steps out of a movement (lifting a leg for example) into a phrase and into steps.

Monday the 27th of January

Choreographed sketch with percussion for the five minutes piece.

Rehearsal schedule of the week:
Monday: Five minutes / 7×11
Tuesday: Mirror / Building set on stage
Wednesday: Five minutes Iva alone / Yoel producing Sounds 7/11
Thursday: Both on Cymbal playing/ Iva drum playing course
Friday: Five minutes /showing the material of the week

Friday the 24th of January

Summary of the Material for the Wagons 1-8:

1. Both players on cymbals playing a rhythm section, next to each other
2. Set gets build (Iva and Yoel, or just IVA – Iva floor? (Material to be developed)
3. Mirror with different perspectives / moving the mirrors
4. Five minutes number task for Yoel and Iva
5. 7/11 – mechanical (Material to be developed)
6. Yoel running forward and back between two drums
7. Light flashes – Yoel maximum speed – Iva (Material to be developed)
8. Building a 1square foot stage (the whole world)

Images/Theatrical options

– Sitting next to the blue paddle in the corner (don’t know what it gives)
– Moving under the street lights (1meter neon’s hanging from the ceiling) dancing in silence (Yoel) outside, starting to play thunder after a few minutes?)
– Blue teacup (if important, it’s got to be enlarged either by lights creating a shadow, or projected on screen or a sheet or….
– The storm is coming. Both lie under the neon’s, the storm is passing above them in form of an uncontrolled scheme of Neon’s popping on and off
– Working with your own shadow (Material to be developed)
– Blue fog? (possible?)
– Yoel in repetitive movement (one that he can do – silent) – Iva watching him.
– Empty space – video stills of a blue frame appear in a rhythmic pattern.
– Blue powder in your hands (hand choreography IVA) – (Material to be developed)
– Creating a different world/sphere

Thursday the 23rd of January

Iva creates movements as material for 7/11.

Wednesday the 22nd of January

Rehearsal with Drums in the Space in different spots.
Iva does Dance with no rhythmic movements in her own flow.
Taking up the tempo of the percussion sound from time to time.
Yoel playing with Power and speed.
Relationship in Space without leaving their own space.
7/11 Rhythm versus calm movements
building images Iva and Yoel dancing together creating one body

Tuesday the 21st of January

Research Day: Iva is creating movements to the music material of Yoel

Monday the 20th of January

Sketches of structuring the piece
4 sections each 15 min. long

First Section:
Switch game
Instruments spread out

Second section: Mirror

Third Section:
7 Sequences 11Pattern (7×11)

Idea: The sink; Iva makes the dishes in a hurry «agitato» running out of water

Fourth section:
Digital sounds that makes Iva sinking back into an imaginary space: like the sky or the ocean the stage is transformed in something bigger with lighting and surrounding sounds

Yoel: how do we want the people to leave the show? In what mood? He wants to produce some pattern and record them for Iva so she can work with them. They agree that they have to be in a bright mood, light and in a playful way.

Rehearsal plan for the week:
11×7 sections Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesday, (Iva and Yoel with Joachim)
Thursday, Friday Yoel composes sound sketches and Iva creates movements for them

Friday the 17th of January

Definition of the relationship between Iva and Yoel:
1. Abstract Functional composed
2. Partnership reacting to each other
3. Relationship in Space each keeps his own independency
4. Individual presence in space by chance

Thursday the 16th of January

We have to get the glue of the tape away from the floor; working to clean the floor.
(we used the wrong tape type to mark the space a square on the dance floor) lot of work!

Rehearsal task for movement impro on 60 or 100 beats per minutes

Wednesday the 15th of January

Defining what has to be in the filmed marketing Teaser of Blue.

Moods of the piece: Dark sounds or cheerful ones? Different moods in the piece –
Goofy but bizarre doesn’t make sense – dreams with surrealistic elements-
Small drum – a cigarette as a long drum stick – a big and a small chair

Section movements one the chair Yoel has to reproduce it what Iva choreographs

Afternoon: Filming the Teaser Blue with William Bejedi our Marketing man!

Tuesday the 14th of January

Costume talk Iva with Anne-Sophie (Costume Supervisor)

Blue elements in the costume could be small elements, that make magic pictures and movements
Yves Klein dress for the percussionist
Dancer in a historic suit that reminds 20ies 30ies Art scene

Monday the 13th of January

Repetition what we did last week.
Talking about the marketing teaser for social media.

Friday the 10th of January

Talk about first try outs on movements.

Check new material: mirror scene between dancer and percussionist 7 rhythms played on different instruments, surfaces and materials.
The dancer takes 7 positions opposite the percussionist like they would watch each other in a mirror.

Thursday the 9th of January

Iva wants to see how Yoel moves?
What kind of Electronic sounds is gonna be used? And why? Is Morphing the connection?
Transformation is the topic for Iva.
Iva wants to switch Spots on stage between the persons: Iva can be Yoel and Yoel can be Iva

Xavier asks Iva and Yoel to write down Topics: What do they miss? What do I like?

IVA:
Independency
Silence vs several voices
Structure
Breath taking moments nair raising
Greek Gods Hercules
Scenario: After dying resurrect as God falling to earth again after a while transforming in a bear

YOEL:
School
Discovering new stuff
Bike trailer
Stage is my home (nostalgy)
Dreams and Nightmare Spiderman Planet Space
Meditative State / Movement
Old House Bodies

1.Impro walking with change direction caused by percussive interactions and beats
2. Impro 2 Artists meet in a space first person has drumsticks the second has no sticks
They swift Iva is drumming Yoel is moving to it until they try to get

Wednesday the 8th of January, First rehearsal, Studio Warteck Basel

Cast: Iva Dancer, Yoel Percussionist, Joachim Choreographer, Tom Schneider Sound designer
Which Instruments do we have?
A Computer, a drum and a soup pot, we will have to rent a Drum Set and get a set of microphones to record beats and rhythmic patterns.

The cast discusses the first steps to create music and movements.
What is blue? An energy an overall comment on what is absent: the blue? Stands for what…
Research Week: Lets chapter this research: Sequences of composition to each other, Which instruments of the Drum Set do we use… extended with a laptop, microphones and loudspeakers…

We start with chapters of dance inventions – and dialogues between the Dancer and Percussionist

First Movements: How does the Percussionist Dance?
The Dancer Iva shows him a sequence of movements he has to reproduce
They dance.

The Sound designer Tom Schneider starts an easy tune in 7/4 on the lap top changing accents and levels upon the ostinato of the rhythm.

Yoel shows Iva a sequence of different rhythms feet 4/4 Handclapping 7/4

Costume will be found by the dancer with the costume producer Anne Sophie. What shall the percussionist wear? Iva will reflect that.

Joachim starts with proposal for the set and sketches in on paper a stair in the back, a pile of chairs and a railing guiding us out of the room.