Wed. May 30 – Sun, June 10

 Martha Mason celebrates the tenth anniversary of the company she helms, Snappy Dance Theatre, with a show called “String Beings” at the Calderwood Pavilion’s Wimberly Theatre Wednesday May 30 through Sunday June 10. It is not a typical dance performance; that’s not what Snappy does. They’re collaborating with MIT computer, who’ll be using computer programs to manipulate live images of the eight dancers and project the animated video onto the stage, in effect, mixing live and virtual performance. They’ll use three cameras and multiple screens. The music is by Berlin composer Michael Roadach, and it will be performed by BSO violinist Lucia Lin and Berklee College of Music electric guitarist Michael Bierylo.
     Says Mason: “For some people who are hesitant about seeing a dance performance - thinking they’re not gonna get it - they might be interested in the multimedia aspect of this. The electric guitar and violin, sound loops, images used as digital puppets and dancers manipulating those digital images. The digital image in front projects an alternative dimension of what’s happening in the relationship.” The relationship? “It’s really about the simple and the profound,” says Mason, “the strings that connect us as humans, strings that are in our makeup, our DNA, what we have in common, the connection between humanity and technology.”
    Mason is speaking several weeks ahead of the debut. “I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable with it yet,” she says. “We don’t have facilities to (properly) rehearse and it’s extremely stressful. The music’s not finished. I have no idea how things are going to work out. Despite that, I’m pretty happy…. It’s very emotional. Part of the collaborative process is connecting on a deep level to the dancers. There has to be a close connection, a physical and emotional trust. We’re family. And we’re always on the edge. It’s good to stay that way. We put ourselves out there like a hovering Bugs Bunny cartoon, fearlessly and with faith, waiting to see what happens. But we’ve never been stronger as a company.” Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday shows are at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday are at 8 p.m. Tickets: $45-$15.

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