Steve Paxton: Physical Things

For Lucinda Child’s VEHICLE, Peter Hirsch designed a 70 kHz Doppler sonar system. Childs swung three red fireman’s buckets around inside the ultrasonic sound beams created by transmitters hung on scaffolding. As Childs swung the buckets, the reflected signals mixed with the original 70 kHz signal, and the resulting beat frequency fell in the audible range. These sounds were transmitted to the twelve speakers around the Armory. [Overview courtesy of Anthology Film Archives]

For Deborah Hay’s SOLO, Larry Heilos designed the control systems for eight radio-controlled carts that moved around the Armory floor, which were then covered with wooden boxes to make platforms for dancers to stand or lie on. At the rear of the space, eight formally dressed performers operated the radio-control system to move the platforms into and around the space. Composer Jim Tenney acted as the “conductor” of the “orchestra”. Sixteen dancers entered the brightly lit space either walking or riding on a cart. They then walked in solo, duet, or trio formations or rode on the moving platforms, following Hay’s specific rules and choreography. The sound for the performance was David Tudor’s realization of Toshi Ichiyanagi’s work FUNAKAKUSHI. [Overview courtesy of Anthology Film Archives]