Reframing "Frames"
Preview of one of the videos featured in "Frames."
When Boulder audiences hear the name David Korevaar, they probably think of classical piano, Bach and Hindemithnot concepts like physical theater, techno pop and art punk.
But thats about to change. With Danelle Helander and Boulders, the泭piano professor泭is cooking up a revival of last springs popular multimedia show, Frames.
Even for Korevaar and Helander, its hard to describe what audiences will see and hear at the show. Its an experience, says Helander. Dance and music dont even encompass it. And were adding video into the mix.
F娶硃鳥梗莽 was first presented to audiences last spring, billed as a musical fusion of jazz, classical, art punk and techno pop. Artistic Director Helander says the program explores different perspectivesthose of the audience and the performersand portrays the many ways music, art, even life are interpreted differently.
When David and I first started talking about this collaboration, we focused on how interesting it is to see yourself perform. The faces you makethe things you arent even aware of. The idea grew from there, says Helander.
The team has been expanding and perfecting the idea after the shows spring run at the泭and the, excited to bring new videos to the show. They say the venue for this iterationtheallows them to stretch their legs.
This is the most appropriate venue weve been in, says Helander. It allows us to add the final piece of the puzzle.
They help explain the idea of perspective as were dealing with it in the music and dance, says Executive Director Sean Owens. In one video, we focus on three parts of the bodyshoulders, torso and legsall moving independently of one another.
The videos sum up and clarify a lot of what happens in the show up until that point. Theyre a recapitulation, which is what were doing musically, too, says Korevaar.
For Korevaar, F娶硃鳥梗莽 offers a chance to step out of his comfort zone. The musical component is interesting, he says. Im up there with a bass player and a percussionist. Jazz is their thing. And Im not a jazz artist.
Were doing intentional improvisation, whichoutside a short passage in a Mozart piece or suchisnt something I do very often.
Helander says a goal of the collaboration is for the performers themselves to explore new sides of their respective arts. I love collaborating with different kinds of artists, she says. Its been really fun to watch David and the other musicians open up more and more.
Its a completely new experience, Korevaar adds. Were such a diverse group, and the different backgrounds we bring to the stage are really what make this show unique.
Indeed, each of the performers brings something different to the table: Helander is an elder caregiver, Owens is an attorney. Bassist and musical director Matt Powelson is a cabinet maker, and drummer Mearl Thompson is a tai chi master.
Owens says for him and Helander, working with different kinds of artists keeps them on their toes. Weve been working together for about a decade, so we really understand each other and our art. Its helpful to bring other people in, to make sure what were doing makes sense to someone besides us.
Working with someone like David is really fun because were getting him out from behind his instrument and doing something thats really novel.
Its liberating, and to some extent its scary, says Korevaar. Were working as an ensemble in the moment while the framework is there, its different every time.
F娶硃鳥梗莽
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 4-5, 8 p.m.
Black Box Theater
2nd basement, ATLAS building, CU-Boulder campus
Free and open to the public