Mycelial Rehearsal Intensive Wrap-Up

Hugh Sato catches our cast in a casual moment.

Time flies when you’re having fun! Three weeks ago, our Egyptian dance collaborators Ezzat Ismail Ezzat and Mounir Saeed arrived in Chicago for Mycelial: Street Parliament‘s second development and rehearsal intensive. Our first exchange took place last March in Cairo, Egypt, through the support of the US Embassy and Department of State.

Through hours of rehearsals, we developed and refined deep listening, dynamic partnering sequences, vigorous choreographies, motion-responsive sound score, interactive video and participatory mobile app. Our wrap-up event brought out a crowd, which helped us better understand how the integration of each component addresses physical and digital participation. It also helped us share the unique exchange and deep friendships we have built through the development of Mycelial, which is becoming both a performance and a meaningful act of cultural diplomacy.

This could not have happened without continuing support of the US Department of State and our many Chicago colleagues. Special thanks to Hyde Park Art Center and High Concept Labs for hosting our studio time, as well as to Ellyzabeth Adler of Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble and Chris Knowlton of EMP for hosting our collaborators and Lagunitas Brewing Company for donating beverages.

Our cast and experimental audience enjoy a raucous dance party during our rehearsal intensive wrap-up event last Tuesday at High Concept Labs (photo by Rachel Schafer)

Stay tuned as we continue to work toward our premiere of Mycelial: Street Parliament in the OnEdge Festival in Chicago in January 2018, and our installation exhibition at Hyde Park Art Center in July 2018!

Want to support Erica Mott Production’s most ambitious year of programming to date? Consider making a tax-deductible donation through Fractured Atlas, our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.