Robert Wechsler
Artistic Director

Palindrome is a performance group,
but it is also one of those "arts organizations" with a board of directors and a membership.  You can see who these people are here.

The artistic director is Robert Wechsler. He is a choreographer, dancer and developer of interactive methods of performing with technology. His interest in sensors and electronic devices dates back to the 1970's when he used body-worn electronic devices to generate sounds through his movements on stage.

He holds a BFA in dance and an MFA in choreography from State University of New York at Purchase and New York University respectively. Between '79 and '88 he studied with Merce Cunningham.

For his choreography and dancing he has been honored with a Fulbright Fellowship, grants from the Marshall Fund, NEA and others.
Together with like-minded artists and scientists, he founded Palindrome in 1982 and has choreographed and danced with them ever since.

From 2004 to 2006 he was head of England's first masters degree program in digital performance (at Doncaster College, Hull University). He is the author of articles in Leonardo Magazine, IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, Ballet International, Dance Magazine, Dance Research Journal, Nouvelle de Danse, Der Tanz der Dinge and others. He also wrote a book, "Motion Tracking -- a practical guide for performing artists".

A list of awards and invitations may be found here.

Principle Collaborators

Dan Hosken has composed music for, and toured with Palindrome since 2005. His most recent works with them include "The Oklo Phenomenon", "Talking Bodies" "A Human Conversation" which earned second place at the Monaco Dance Forum competition in 2006. Other musical collaborators include Erling Wold, Vladimir Tarnopolsky, Butch Rovan, Laurie Amat, Pete Dowling, Orm Finnendahl and Florian Müller.

Dancer and choreographer Helena Zwiauer was Wechsler's principle artistic partner from 1995 to 2005 -- now she is taking a break to raise a family.  Other choreographic collaborators include Frey Faust, Brenda Daniels and Kakuti Davis (see "guest choreographers" in the video section).

The dancing artists change. Indeed, Palindrome is not a steady ensemble, but works from project to project.  Dancers names are listed below.

The idea of applying computers to the stage grew out of a remarkable collaboration with computer engineer Frieder Weiss. Their work together between 1995 and 2006 precipitated over 30 stage and museum pieces and earned Palindrome a strong reputation for dance innovation and interactive performing.

From 2005 - 2006 Palindrome created two operas: Brother/Sister with music by long-time collaborator Erling Wold and Jenseits der Schatten with music by Vladimir Tarnopolsky. Stage artist (lighting designer, photographer, actress/dancer...) Diana Wildschut played a key role in the creation of both of these operas.

Graphic artist and sound designer Babis Panagiotidis created much of the visual and acoustic components of Palindrome's work between 1996 and 2006 (not to mention poster design and DJ).  Lighting designers include Alex Koziara, Achim Nickel, Max Schubert and Diana Wildschut.