ABYSS is an iterative and site responsive physical and sonic performance intervention that creates conduits for collective grief processing and examinations of the ways we perform ourselves in club culture and social gathering spaces. The work examines our bodies (abysses) ontological and somatic communication with vibration, groove, physical labor, absurdity, power and release. The work enmeshes our artistic identities as dancers/choreographers and DJ’s/electronic music artists within the U.S. nightlife and experimental performance scenes.

ABYSS blends bespoke and traditional theatrical and technological effects with DIY and performance art modalities. The work has been developed in modular excerpts to open or close slowdanger DJ/live sound sets and while touring a physical performance to accompany harsh noise legends Black Leather Jesus across Europe in October 2023. A recent performance of ABYSS took place at a boatyard rave where we opened our set with a 30 min dance performance followed by an hour long live set where audiences transitioned from viewing to engaging the dance floor.

In this work, bondage and efforted acts of physical support assisted by the use of leather harnesses distribute power and tension between performers. These tensions and expressions of weight and labor are sonically accompanied through a harsh noise and techno sound score created through the performance. Performers physically burn themselves out in the act of supporting each other and find themselves in prolonged stillnesses. In this stillness, smoke from micro-foggers embedded into the performers' hoodies fill their forms and spill out from their faces. They become the immolated phoenix, burning down to begin again.

We view ABYSS as a performance practice and methodology in embodying the apocalypse, begging the question, what holds us together?

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ABYSS has been supported by Pittsburgh Parking Authority, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, Point Park University, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership with generous support from Citizens Financial Group. ​