LEE SU MIN
DANCE FILMS
Passionate about both sound and movement, I have been producing dance films since 2020. I believe that movement is one way of making sound visible, and a large part of my artistic practice investigates the interdisciplinary linkages (or lack thereof) between music and movement.
1. At crossroads
Cinematography by Joni Grace
Violin by Monica Toh
In 2020, I decided to produce a short dance film as an extension of my second album, In Transit. Movement material was choreographed and improvised to Track 4, "At crossroads". This project was birthed out of my interest in merging my passions in dance and music together. I wanted to explore a new way of integrating different artistic disciplines to challenge the boundaries of each. Through this dance film, I also sought to bring my music to life by providing an additional visual layer to the auditory experience.
With the rise of digital art productions in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, creating this dance film also allowed me to experiment with producing digital art pieces that can be accessible to the masses, even during an ongoing pandemic. As a result of the uncertainties due to the pandemic, the creation process leading up to this filming was rather spontaneous, with large amounts of improvisation incorporated into the final piece.
This project would not have been possible without cinematography by Joni Grace and violin by Monica Toh. I am thankful for the chance to connect and collaborate with these passionate artists and I hope to continue pursuing similar collaborative art projects in the future.
2. Inhale
Cinematography by Joni Grace
Words by Anna Wee
Dancers: Freesia Tong and Lee Su Min
Knowing that I would be headed off to further my studies overseas in a few months pushed me to embark on this collaborative project with friends while I still have the chance to. Inhale is a dance film to the opening track, Inhale, of Between Breaths. It reminds us to appreciate and embrace the moments that we spend with those around us. To live, to feel, to breathe a little more. Dancing in the rain was not part of the plan as we had forgotten to check the weather forecast prior to the shoot. Nevertheless, it was an incredible experience that reminded us a little of our childhood and brought out the younger sides of ourselves.
A big thank you to Freesia for dancing with me. Dancing together over the past few years has been amazing and this experience has been nothing short of memorable; getting lost on the way to the shoot, learning the choreo over Zoom, and finally dancing together again after a long 11 months. I loved this collaboration and cannot wait for us to dance together again! Thank you Joni for filming us and holding the camera so steadily under the umbrella despite the pouring rain. I'm glad that we got to work on another dance film together and we definitely had a better idea of what we were doing this time. Thank you Anna for writing the beautiful words that really sum up the essence of the album, and I think they reflect thoughts that we all resonate with.
This was an experience that I will never forget, and I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it.
3. Exhale
Cinematography by Joni Grace
Words by Anna Wee
To close the album, I produced another dance film, Exhale, to the last track of Between Breaths. This piece of music is about letting go, overcome with sadness as I embark on a journey full of uncertainty, not sure when I will next be able to play the harp. At the same time, this is also an appreciation to SOTA for the opportunity to learn the harp, and to everyone who has supported me in my harp journey despite my very late start at 14. Ultimately, this piece sums up my 5-year harp journey; it reflects the identity that I've been trying to discover and shape over the past 5 years. I found myself being able to be vulnerable through this piece - trusting instincts and allowing myself to base this piece almost entirely off an improv.
I can't end the album off without dance. I'm so thankful to have danced so much more in 2021 and to have learnt from many amazing teachers. There isn't any specific meaning behind the movements in this dance film. Rather, this is a compilation of improvs in the garden because I preferred to let loose and let the music carry me through, wherever this may take me.
Thank you Joni for filming this and for bringing the last piece in the album to life. It must have been tough to film improv since I didn't have a specific structure when I danced, but you did an amazing job. I'm super proud of how far you've come since our first film one year ago, during which we were completely new to this. Thank you Anna for opening and closing the album with your words. I'm constantly inspired by your reflections and thoughts, and i'm in awe of how you've put them together for the album. It was so much fun doing this with you and I hope this project also provided you an outlet for self-expression.
4. Do You Have Space?
Do You Have Space was written while I sat outdoors, at the bench overlooking a beautiful lake near my dorm room. While looking at the sky, I was greeted by a sense of serenity and calmness, which I translated into music. This dreamy-sounding piece provides listeners with the space to unwind and seek comfort in the simplicity and peacefulness of the music. This film combines dance videos and videos of Australia, forming a montage to capture my memories and experiences in Australia thus far.
Inspired by the album’s concept of moving to a new country and finding comfort within a new space, this film investigates movement in different spaces. I wanted to see how dancing in spaces of different sizes would affect the movements created, and used overlay to create a somewhat overwhelming, ghost-like effect, inviting viewers to reflect on whether they feel that they have sufficient space. The videos of Australia selected also all involve movement of some kind, from people walking by to trees swaying in the wind and the sun setting.
5. Endless Waters
I was feeling lost and confused, and turned to music to seek comfort and assurance in the fact that life can be filled with so much uncertainty and unpredictability. Endless Waters is inspired by this feeling of being surrounded by Endless Waters, not knowing when to begin, where to begin, when to end, and where to end. Feeling directionless, with no clear destination in sight. Being engulfed within these never-ending waters.
6. Let The Dust Settle
Let The Dust Settle is an improvised harp composition, inspired by the dance imagery of completing each movement, or gesture, before moving on to the next. In this music improvisation, I focused on allowing each phrase in the music to conclude naturally by giving greater attention to letting the last few notes of each phrase ring out. Similarly, the movements also focus on committing to each decision and letting the body flow naturally, resisting the urge to leave some moments unfinished and hanging.
7. Back and Forth
Does movement lead sound, or the other way around? Scoring a silent dance film and trying to express movement through sound. maybe there isn’t a leader in this creative process after all; perhaps it’s the constant alternation between music and movement that glues the film together.
Back and Forth has been an integral stepping stone in this lifelong journey of exploring the relationship (or lack thereof) between sound and movement. It reinforces my appreciation for the interdependency (arguable) between the two artforms.
Working on this film has been challenging, yet exciting and refreshing. Trying to move in silence without the music/sound/internal pulse was tough, but it has deepened my exploration of (i) how separate/disconnected movement and sound can be from each other, and (ii) to what extent two seemingly individualistic parts can be glued together. I am excited to continue delving deeper within this journey of sound and movement.
The Process:
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Dance in silence and film
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Edit the dance clips
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Write the music
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Layer the music over the dance clips
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Refine the dance clips, according to the music
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Make additional musical choices, informed by moments in the dance
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Repeat, until satisfied
8. Beginnings
In the quietest moments, we search for the softest of sounds, a hint of a new beginning.
Beginnings is the first dance film (and first music track) of album 6, Scattered Thoughts. Comprising of both choreographed movement phrases and free dance improvisations, movement choices are heavily shaped by elements within the music, in hopes of drawing stronger connections between the sound and movement.
Conceptually, Beginnings encourages to embrace the smallest, or quietest moments, because you never know when a tiny moment can transform into the beginning of something much larger.
9. Space
Space is 1/4 of “Embodied” - my final music composition project that explores the links between sound and movement. this film investigates what happens when the (i) dance comes before the music, and (ii) everything in the music is made entirely from the harp.
Thank you Angel and Joan for bringing this vision to life, and to my composition tutor Cat Hope for her mentorship and advice. This has been so fun and I am excited to continue exploring sound and movement from different angles.
📽️ Videography by @angelrampantaguinaldo
🧍♀️ On-site assistance by @joanasaur
🎶 + 💃🏻 + 🎞️ Music + Dance + Editing by me