BODY OF SOUND
2026
12th Ave Arts (Seattle, WA)
Concept & Direction: Undercurrent (Alethea Alexander + Hilary Grumman)
Performers: Alexandra Romanyshyn, Alicia Kiefler, Claire Swanson, Destiny Poole, Esther Simmons, Gabbi Masten, Glen Norris, Hailey Bender, Hannah Kiers, Julie Verdone, Maya Russell, Mikalya Villa-Howells, Natalie Senn, Pa Ying Gia Thao, Sophia Bunnell, Yeonshin Kim, Zahra Garrett, Zoe Foy, Zoey Cain
Sound and wearable tech integration & design: Mare Hirsch, in collaboration with live generation from the performing artists
Lighting: Kat Urquhart
Body of Sound weaves 26 pressure sensors into dancers’ clothing to directly transmorph touch into a live-generated soundscore, and amplify physical and relational explorations of reciprocity, mutualism, enmeshment, and resilience.
Co-conceived and shaped by Undercurrent and multimedia artist Mare Hirsch, Body of Sound imagines a world where relational care is magical, vital, tactile and overwhelmingly auditory. Hirsch custom-built the sound tech for this world, offering wearable computers and pressure strips to each of 19 performing artists, blending the worlds of music and movement into a live symphony of rigor and support.
photos: Jim Coleman + Hilary Grumman
