Houston’s Group Acorde, premieres Beat at MATCHbox 2

Group Acorde presents “Beat“: an evening of premiere works of contemporary dance and live music performances highlighting the work of composers Thomas Helton and Natasha Manley and choreographers Roberta Paixao Cortes and Lindsey McGill. This full evening production will feature two works; “Batimento Cardiaco” and “Vessel” (excerpt). Both works demonstrate Group Acorde’s ability to create art collaborations that display the company’s diverse artistry and artists.

“Batimento Cardiaco” is a new work by composer Thomas Helton in collaboration with contemporary choreography and visual art by Brazilian visual artist Andre Amaral. This work is a conversation between a soundscore for different instruments that will include improvisation, pulsating sounds and out of sync rhythms, contemporary dance choreography, and a set design made out of recycled materials. The work will feature three more musicians from local ensemble Relative Dissonance in a never-before-seen collaboration between Group Acorde and a local musical ensemble.

“Batimento Cardiaco” is Portuguese for “heartbeat”. Studies have shown that experiences with natural disasters can affect one’s mental health and have an impact on one’s sleep and overall mood. Physically, traumatic experiences such as preparing for a hurricane to hit one’s city, going through it and the aftermath of it can cause heart palpitations to temporary or permanent heart damage. All experiences that Houstonians tend to be very familiar with. On the contrary, music and dance have been proven to normalize one’s heart rate as sound processing begins in the brainstem, which also controls the rate of one’s heartbeat and respiration.

“Vessel” (excerpt) is the first time Natasha Manley collaborates with the company. Natasha is a soprano and this new work displays her vocal abilities as a classically trained musician that is exploring different sounds and their relationship to movement and dance. Beat offers a unique channel of information and awareness to traumatic experiences and its effects on one’s mental health with the heartbeat as the center and inspiration for both works.

Beat features performances by Roberta Paixao Cortes, Lindsey McGill, Thomas Helton, Natasha Manley and Relative Dissonance. Set and digital design by Andre Amaral and lighting design by Tiffany Schrepferman.

Beat will be at MATCHBOX 2 (3400 Main Street, Houston/TX 77002 | 713-521-4533) October 3rd, and 4th, 2024. 8pm. General admission: $32; student/industry: $22. Ticket information: www.matchouston.org

Group Acorde’s mission is to cultivate and educate diverse audiences through live, thought-provoking, original and affordable performance collaborations between contemporary dance and experimental music.  The company broadens its reach through community partnerships that aim to include and engage people from all walks of life through education, dialogue and accessibility. www.groupacorde.org

Group Acorde presents “Beat” featuring Thomas Helton and Natasha Manley, photo by Claire McAdams, Graphic Design by Andre Amaral