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// you do not need to translate exactly! it is better if it is fun to read. !!////

"Do you speak _________?

How What Why Where and Who we are....

We are a kind of dance company... but Palindrome has an unusual focus: to combine science and technology with dance.

Palindrome is known for "interactive" dances -- using bio-sensors and motion tracking technology, music, stage lighting or projections are controlled by the performers' movements. This is hard to imagine! This is one reason why there are so many videos in this web site.

Palindrome is directed by Robert Wechsler. His interest in sensors and stage technology dates back to the 70's when he built electronic devices to make sounds that respond to his movements. This was in Iowa, in the United States where he studied genetics and dance -- perhaps an unusual combination of interests, but they brought him to New York City where he became a dancer and choreographer.  In 1982, with some like-minded artists and scientists, he formed the first dance company dedicated to the correlation of dance with science -- Palindrome was born.

It relocated to Nürnberg, Germany in 1989 and they have created dozens of pieces. They have performed in Rome, Tokyo, New York, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Oslo, Buenos Aires, Budapest, Montreal, Prague, and most of the major cities of Germany.

For its creative work with technology, Palindrome has won a number of awards including the Monaco Dance Forum (Jury selection, 2006), First Prize at the Berlin Transmediale (2002) and First Prize at CynetArt (2000). The company has received grants from the state of Bavaria, the Goethe Institute and regular funding from the city of Nürnberg.

COLLABORATORS and RECENT PROJECTS

Helena Zwiauer is Wechsler's principle artistic partner and choreographed or co-choreographed much of the newer work. Other dancer/choreographers include Frey Faust and Brenda Daniels. The idea of applying computer technology to the stage grew out of a partnership with engineer and interactive systems designer, Frieder Weiß. Their work together between 1995 and 2006 resulted in numerous stage and museum pieces.

In 2005 and 2006 Palindrome created two operas:

Brother/Sister (also titled "Blinde Liebe: a story of love and murder") was composed by long-time collaborator Erling Wold and premiered in Nürnberg and the San Francisco International Arts Festival.

"Jenseits der Schatten" with music by Vladimir Tarnopolsky was performed by the Bonn City Opera in 2006.

Composer Dan Hosken's recent work with Palindrome includes "Talking Bodies" and "A Human Conversation", which came in second place at the Monaco Dance Forum competition. He also composed "Das Oklo Phänomen" (2007) which is a piece about natural catastrophes and the human psyche.

WHAT is INTERACTION?

10,000 years ago, performances were much more interactive than they are today. one reason is the cheap availability of recording and transmission technology, interactivity has almost dissappeared from the performing arts.
What we often see on stage today is completely fixed and repeatable. The music is almost always recorded -- dancers hardly ever work directly with musicians any more -- and the role of the audience has been reduced to watching quietly and then clapping at the end. It was not always like this.

Automation is not interaction -- even if they are often confused. Bringing a new technology on a stage may be fun, but this is no guarantee of interactivity. It is what humans do with the technology that makes it interactive.

Many performing groups today are using technology. What is a special at Palindrome is our strong focus on interaction. This means, that the media -- projections, sounds, lights -- which accompany the dancers is never completely fixed, never exactly repeatable. There is always something "live".

Most of the work we do uses motion tracking. The sensor sends movement data to the computer where it is used to control other media. The kind of sensor you use has a lot to do with the how the piece will look. There are two basic approaches: 1) video cameras and other "external" measuring devices and, 2) body-worn electrodes and other physiological measuring devices. These are discussed in detail in the technology section of this website.

Best regards,
Palindrome