About: Westwater Photochoreography

About

• What is photochoreography?

Symphonic photochoreography is an innovative art form that is connecting today’s orchestras with today’s audiences. It engages audiences worldwide with evocative, multi-image photographic essays choreographed and performed live to selected works of classical music. We cue photochoreography to the orchestra's performance of the music. No click track is used.

During a performance, hundreds of thematically-related photographs are projected onto a 440-square-foot, three-panel, panoramic screen suspended above the orchestra. As the musicians perform the music under the orchestra's conductor, the guest artist (photochoreographer) precisely cues elegant visual transitions, filling the screen with single, double and triple image combinations that often form impressive panoramas.

This creative synthesis of music and imagery provides a compelling new symphonic experience that has been performed with over 150 orchestras across North America and abroad.

The Alabama Symphony performs "A Love for the Land."

•

How do orchestras use photochoreography?
(1)

Program photochoreography from our repertoire. Select from 15 pieces set to 16 different composers, including Beethoven, Bach, Debussy, Dvorák, Copland, Barber, Vaughan Williams, Mahler, Sibelius and others. See a full composer list at right under "What music is used?"

(2) Invite your community to submit photographs and we’ll create a new visual piece from their images. They’ll be delighted
to see their images on the big screen during your performance! Learn more at our Community Involvement page.

(3) Choose a meaningful event, time period, person or place. We’ll create a thoughtful, compelling fusion of music and images from archival or submitted photography for you.

(4) Take your audience's breath away with a night of beautiful classical music and giant-screen photography showcasing popular natural or cultural features in your city or region.

(5) Create an entirely new form of symphonic expression by combining one or more of the ideas above with your own.

New photochoreography pieces can be set to new or existing musical works.

Preparing the three screen panels for hanging.

The three screen panels are joined together and suspended above the orchestra.

• How is photochoreography programmed?
Symphonic photochoreography is programmed by orchestras of all sizes for classics, pops, family, educational, summer festival and chamber music concerts. It is performed in all kinds of venues, from auditoriums and theaters to concert halls and outdoor settings.

• What music is used?

Many classical works are well suited for visual accompaniment. Currently, we offer 15 photochoreography pieces set to selections by Beethoven, Bach, Debussy, Dvorák, Barber, Vaughan Williams, Fauré, Copland, Elgar, Diamond, Glass, Pachelbel, Grofé, Górecki, Mahler and Sibelius.

We are continually producing new pieces. Orchestras interested in highlighting the work of one or more composers can do so through a new commission set to new or existing music. Visit our Repertoire page to learn more about the pieces available for performance. Contact Westwater Arts to discuss your ideas for new productions and to request a full repertoire sheet, listing specific musical pairings.

The projectors are sheathed in a black insulated covering to cut ambient sound and light. The projection arrangement may straddle seats without them having to be physically removed.

• How does photochoreography work?
1) Fees. The concert fee typically includes our equipment (projectors, screens, etc.) as well as the artist's time supervising the setup and takedown. Fees are at times less than the cost of renting the equipment alone, and are less than most alternatives utilizing multimedia. Orchestras work directly with the artist to book engagements.

Projectors (dark area toward the rear wall) are typically set on a low, flat table arrangement straddling seats.

Westwater

has performed with the
principal orchestras of Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Dallas, Saint Louis, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cincinnati, Saint Paul, Indianapolis, Houston, Portland, Denver, Columbus, Rochester, Buffalo, Salt Lake City, Vancouver (Canada), Singapore and over 150 more >

2) Setup. Virtually all performance equipment is typically provided, including projectors, dissolve and programming control units and a 3-section, 10.5’ x 42’ screen. Front projection is preferred and most often occurs from a small cordoned-off section of the audience seating area—typically about 66’ or 88’ from the screens. Other projection distances may be possible.

The Oregon Mozart Players perform a piece of Westwater photochoreography, many of which are performable by chamber as well as symphony orchestras.

3) Performance. Orchestras provide both the music and the conductor. Under the direction of the conductor, the orchestra performs the selected score(s) in the dark with stand-light illumination. Image transitions are cued by the artist to the orchestra’s live performance so the conductor and musicians can focus on the musical performance. No click track is used. This simplifies the process and reduces rehearsal time, especially compared with performing to a video or movie.

For more information please call
or email Westwater Arts.