
The Birds Keep Singing



Paige Phillips
In collaboration with the dancers: Megan Davis & Josh Hines

The Birds Keep Singing was commissioned by Josh Hines, who asked that the work be inspired by horror movies. Major themes found throughout the genre that I choose to duplicate included: guttural noises, an acknowledgement of tension to which the origin is unbeknownst to the audience, plot twists, play on power/control/domination, and exaggerated facial expressions.
The dancers go in and out of vignettes, moving between deranged euphoria and disturbed interactions; their exact relationship remains vague throughout, and the viewer is left questioning their motivations. Both performers are depicted as equally strong, which is seen through their powerful energy and back-and-forth dominance over one another. During the ten-minutes, music is only played for 90 seconds. For the rest, the performers create a deep and throaty sound score, adding an eerie quality to the atmosphere. The sustained duration and pacing of sections mimic suspenseful aspects found in horror films. Overall, the work explores many facets of an unbalanced relationship, while also shattering normative partnering expectations.