Excerpts from the 3rd section of the trilogy “OK Broken”, a structured improvisation created and performed by Susan Hefner and Kevin Shea at Susan’s Salon 10/6/24, Brooklyn NY.

Excerpts from “Wracked”, the 2^nd section of the trilogy “OK Broken”, a movement/sound improvisation by Susan Hefner/Kevin Shea performed 6/8/24 at Susan’s Salon at MESH Studio, Brooklyn, NY

Excerpts from “Wonder Metal Arabesque”, the 1^st section of the trilogy “OK Broken”, a Movement/Sound Improvisation by Susan Hefner/ Kevin Shea performed at Susan’s Salon in Brooklyn 10/21/23. Video by Naval Cassidy

Excerpts from “Wonder Metal Arabesque”, Susan Hefner/Kevin Shea: Movement/Sound Improvisation performed 1/12/24 at Sunview Lunchnet, Brooklyn, NY. Videography by Nelson Simon

Excerpts from Surrealist show at East Village Arts, Birmingham 3/15/24

Shelley Hirsch, vocal artist; Bruce Golden, percussion; Susan Hefner, dance Sound/movement Improvisation

Susan Hefner (dance) and Gordon Beeferman (piano) A structured improvisation at Susan’s Salon South Feb 11, 2024, Birmingham, AL

From “Exposure”, a collaboration with Dafna Naphtali (guitar, voice) and Katherine Liberovskaya (visuals). With Danny Tunick (percussion, accordian, flute, etc) and Columbine Macher (dance). Performed Dec 30, 2023 at Susan’s Salon, Brooklyn, NY.

Round Square and Other Works Video

2.43 minute trailer of the video available on DVD.

This video draws from performance structures, but uses the architecture and contents of the artists’ kitchen, bedroom, basement and living room to move from the mundane to the realm of wild imaginings. A metal dryer back becomes a fashion statement; washing machine guts double as drum and mask; untamable spoons and forks clatter out of control; metal siding elongates wobbly arms, making thunder. The sound was recorded live in action; absurd Foley sound by Michael adorns the 3rd and final piece. Videographer Nelson Simon is also a guest performer. To purchase 43 minute video: email us at meshinmotion@gmail.com.

Round Square

Excerpts from an improvisation at Mex in Dortmund, Germany

Featuring a washing machine guts drum, the back of a dryer, aluminum bowls, tin cans and assorted junk used as instruments and kinetic props. Performed by musician Michael Evans and choreographer Susan Hefner.

Recipe

10 min. section of the hour-long piece “Round Square”

Metal pots, pans, buckets and a clothesline with saw blade, hubcap, sheet metal and sieve provide both instrumentation and kinetic props for this structured improvisation, performed by musician Michael Evans and choreographer Susan Hefner.

Another Happy Accident

Excerpt of 52 minute piece

Not to be defeated by injury, aging or failure, three irrepressible humans dream of victorious physical accomplishments. Three live sections alternating with video arise from piles of debris, mannequin parts and bandages.

Round Peg Square Hole

Excerpt of 20 minute piece

Free improvisation with Michael Evans and Susan Hefner at Susan’s Salon December 11, 2010, with washing machine guts, aluminum bowls, boozaphone, sheet metal, and wood.

Domestic Noise

Excerpt of 50 minute piece

Structured improvisation by Susan Hefner and Michael Evans, percussionist, in which the potential of ordinary household objects, appliances and garbage is extended to create sound, symbol and sculpture. The couple seeks to crack through the spatial edges of a claustrophobic kinesphere through subversive goofiness, messy happenstance and rage. Movement conversations are thwarted by an ever-growing environment of refuse from the past. These flawed humans cannot come together with any clarity; or can they? See also Michael Evans.

Cymbalic Logicians

Excerpt of 30 minute piece

Structured improvisation created and performed by Michael Evans, percussionist, and Susan Hefner. The work features 50 cymbals: suspended, mounted on stands, bowed, struck, danced upon, thrown or worn. The performance piece makes its own live music. Pushing the boundaries of musician and dancer, Michael and Susan create duets as two equally visible interacting characters. Michael enlarges and abstracts the natural movements of a musician in space while Susan’s fractured dancing results in sound-making. The instruments become symbols, sculpture, and objects of theater: barriers, islands, quagmires, garments, and tender gifts. Video clips from the rehearsal process by Nelson Simon give a humorous glimpse of the performers’ real life relationship.

Fulminate Moon

Excerpt of 60 minute piece

Structured improvisation created and performed by Michael Evans, percussionist, and Susan Hefner. Through nonsensical movement and absurd interactions in a space strewn with drums and bells, the duo crashes into a noisy relationship full of playful humor. In spite of out-of-control falling, missed connections and bumbling slapstick, they sometimes arrive at accidental harmonies. The piece provides a wry glimpse of our struggle as men and women to reach each other on uncluttered ground. Video by Nelson Simon.