District 18: Activation 15 - Open Rehearsal

15 March 2019, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

On-site at Tampines Round Market and Food Center (TRMFC)

The collaterals from Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) arrived today, and the sound technicians were standing by to set up the equipment (speakers and console).

The collaterals were bigger and a lot more than expected.

There were a lot of posters and banners regarding AYN. There was a concern where it was not subtle and would give the residents an obvious indication that something was happening in TRMFC. Haizad would prefer the performance to happen out of the blue and “disappear” as suddenly as it appeared. Perhaps there was ineffective communication from both parties; where they could have clarified the details of the performance along with its artistic aspects so that the collaterals would tie in with the principles of the performance or the dance company (in this case P7:1SMA).

There was then a discussion between Daryl & Haizad and the sound technicians regarding the position of the speakers. Meanwhile, the dancers were preparing their trolleys and attaching the fairy lights. All of this was happening at around 7pm, as everyone came earlier to prepare for the show.

Setting up of AYN collaterals, discussing about the speakers, attaching the fairy lights to the trolleys.

After a while, Haizad gathered the dancers to brief them about what they will be doing before the first show at 8pm. Shangbin, Chloe and Carmen went through the duet part in Segment 3 before warming up together and practicing the co-created phrase in a circle. Haizad then went through the changes with them namely the trolleys “pushing back”, the dancers putting their heads through the trolley handles and the duet after the snake while everyone else continued to carry out the co-created phrase.

There were technical difficulties when the sound crew tested the system as there was either a power outage or something blew. At this point, it was almost time for the open rehearsal to begin. They perhaps could have started setting up earlier in case time was needed to remedy possible issues. In addition, we were unaware of any back up plan that they could have implemented should such occurrences take place. The open rehearsal was pushed back from 8pm to 8:30pm, and Aameer’s portable JBL speaker was used instead.

Aameer’s portable speaker was used for the open rehearsal.

By this time, there were a few audience members sitting in the area; a mother and her child, Anirba from Arts In Your Neighbourhood, some friends of the sound crew as well as Xiao Jun and Caroline (two dancers that have previously worked with P7:1SMA).