teka-mori

Program Notes

Teka-Mori, for belly dancer, RAKS (Remote electroAcoustic Kinesthetic Sensing) system, and computer-generated sound, features an interactive, bi-directional relationship between movement and music that connects choreographic gestures and sonic outcomes. Teka refers to the vocalization of two different drum strokes on a doumbek. Mori, adapted from the Latin phrase memento mori, evokes the idea of lifelessness and decay. Teka-Mori conveys a dystopian, “broken-machine” aesthetic through noisy, distorted sonic materials.

The choreography in Teka-Mori is rooted in tribal-fusion belly dance, which originated in the U.S., but is derivative of Raqs Sharqi (Middle Eastern dance). Sinuous torso undulations, controlled hip isolations, and upper and lower body layering are a few characteristics of the movement vocabulary. The RAKS (Remote electroAcoustic Kinesthetic Sensing) system is a wearable wireless sensor interface consisting of flex sensor, accelerometer, and programmable LEDs, designed specifically for belly dance movement.

Interface Design/Implementation/Composition: Aurie Hsu and Steven Kemper

Choreography, Costume Design, Dancer: Aurie Hsu

Hardware Development/Implementation, Max Programming: Steven Kemper

Performances

10/3-10/5/2019 Fata Morgana, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Arts and Humanities Institute, Indianapolis, IN

11/3/2018 Third Practice Electroacoustic Music Festival, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA

11/08/2018 SPLICE II Festival, Bowling Green, OH

7/30/2018 Alion Baltic International Music Festival - Glehn Castle, Tallinn, Estonia

2/23/2017 Wayne State University, Shaver Recital Hall, Detroit, MI

9/16/2016 International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Cloud Nine-Tivoli Vrendenberg, Utrecht, The Netherlands

2/5/2016: Faculty Composers Concert, Oberlin, OH

8/15/2015: 2nd International Conference on Movement and Computing, Vancouver, Canada

6/1/2015: 15th International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME), Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

11/15/14: Sonic Currents series at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA

12/7/13: Art Basel Miami Beach - The Street 2013: Festival of Electronic Music, Art and Performance, Harold Golen Gallery - Miami, FL

4/12/13: California State University - Monterey Bay, CA

12/7-12/8/12: Art Basel Miami Beach - The Street 2012: Festival of Electronic Music, Art and Performance, Harold Golen Gallery - Miami, FL