"Sampling": Sound Embodiment and Dancing Sounds. A Choreographic Duo

Abstract

This paper investigates Sampling (2014), a collaborative work created with Lorena Nogal, which integrates dance, sound performance, and movement art. Inspired by the musical production technique of sampling, Sampling is a living collage in constant modulation, exploring corporeality and embodiment through an innovative interplay of sound and movement. By examining the ontological status of sound and movement within the piece, this paper argues that Sampling transcends the conventional framework of a solo dance performance accompanied by sound. Instead, it posits Sampling as a true dance duo, where sound assumes the role of an equal performer, engaging in a dynamic dialogue with the dancer's movement. This analysis delves into the tangible, relational and generative capacities of sound, demonstrating how it becomes an active agent in shaping the spatial-temporal dynamics of the performance. Furthermore, the paper explores the role of technology in augmenting the embodied experience, examining how the use of a multi-channel speaker system creates an immersive sonic environment that blurs the boundaries between performers and audience.