Four Parts
Four Parts, 2021
photo credit: Ritche Perez
Four Parts
Untellable Movement Theatre’s project, Four Parts, is an immersive, sensory-rich experience that merges movement and music in a unique, in-the-round performance. This collaboration with the Strong Harbour Strings Collective, produced in partnership with Neighbourhood Dance Works and supported by the Arts and Culture Centres’ Arts Connector Program, is a testament to our commitment to innovative, accessible art.
Four Parts, 2021
photo credit: Ritche Perez
The Concept
Set to Jessie Montgomery’s evocative score, Strum, Four Parts is performed with the audience positioned at the center, creating a 360-degree viewing experience. Four players and four movers interpret the four parts of the score, harmonizing and caterwauling in a glorious fever dream. The unique staging allows the viewer to observe the performance from the inside out, fully immersed in the interplay of music and movement.
Four Parts, 2021
photo credit: Ritche Perez
The Performance
The performance itself is a dance of musicians and movers, each bringing their own interpretation to Montgomery’s vibrant composition. The performers include:
Movers
Violin 1: Hilary Walsh
Violin 2: Vanessa Cardoso Whelan
Viola: Tanya Lasby
Cello: Josh Murphy
Players
Violin 1: Carole Bestvater
Violin 2: Rory Graham
Viola: Maria Cherwick
Cello: Nathan Cook
The collaboration is directed by Lynn Panting, with videography by Ritche Perez, sound mix by Brian Kenny, and technical support from Karl Simmons.
For more information about Jessie Montgomery and her work, visit jessiemontgomery.com.
Four Parts, 2021
photo credit: Ritche Perez
Innovative Presentation
From February 18 to March 4, 2021, a 360-degree version of Four Parts, optimized for cellphones, was presented by the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Culture Centres at no charge. This format allowed viewers to experience the performance in a truly immersive way, bringing the energy and emotion of the live performance to a digital audience.
A non-360-degree version of the performance hit the film festival circuit in 2021 and 2022. Four Parts was an official selection for the 2021 Nickel Independent Film Festival, the 2021 FIN Atlantic International Film Festival, the 2021 St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, and the 2022 Dumbo Film Festival.
Four Parts, 2021
photo credit: Ritche Perez
Reflections
Four Parts supports Untellable Movement Theatre's grassroots mission by releasing a 360-degree version optimized for cell phones, making the performance accessible to a broader audience and democratizing the experience of professional dance and music. This mobile-friendly format allows viewers to engage with the art form from the comfort of their own spaces, breaking down barriers to access. Simultaneously, by creating a non-360-degree version for the film festival circuit, Four Parts upholds and elevates professional practice. This version, showcased at prestigious festivals like the Nickel Independent Film Festival and FIN Atlantic International Film Festival, underscores our commitment to high-quality production values and artistic excellence, ensuring our work is recognized and celebrated on a larger stage.