Falling asleep can truly be a transit to a better place. This vignette beautifully depicts the battle to sleep to the world premiere of Jessica Shand's Liminal Spaces.
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Dance Corps: Erin Aslami, Jada Jones, Jen Chu, Jess Eng, Laura Coe, Noah Ramos, Payton Kim, Savannah Lee, Katharine Courtemanche
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Choreography and Cinematography: Laura Coe
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Video Recording: London Vallery
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Audio Editing: Jessica Shand (“Liminal Spaces”) and Benjamin P. Wenzelberg (“Après un rêve”)
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Video Editing: Laura Coe
Liminal Spaces
Written and composed by Jessica Shand
Performer: Natalie Choo, soprano
[VERSE 1]
I used to ride
The subway at 4 am
I’d swear by the moon
Time was frozen
Chipping away
At the fly in the amber
Amber
That hung around my throat
[PRE-CHORUS]
‘Cause it was hard, hard to tell,
Where I ended
And you began, you began,
With your vacant promises
Without you, I’m reckless
[CHORUS]
No I can’t keep pace, smash all the time pieces, blurring
The days that go by ‘til you’re unrecognizable
I might not be moving but at least I’m in transit
To a better place
[VERSE 2]
Sometimes I dream
I’m swimming in seas of gold
Riding high
In the shallow
I’ll close my eyes
And let the tide pull me in
‘Til I’m choking
On yellow
[PRE-CHORUS]
Take me awhile, take me awhile,
From my own company
When I’m asleep, when I’m asleep
I’m not in quarantine
Without you, I’m free
[CHORUS]
No I can’t keep pace, smash all the time pieces, blurring
The days that go by ‘til you’re unrecognizable
I might not be moving but at least I’m in transit
To a better place
[BRIDGE]
In between
In between then and now
In between you and me
In between destinies
In between
In between faces
In between places
And liminal spaces
Liminal spaces
[INSTRUMENTAL]
[CHORUS]
No I can’t keep pace, smash all the time pieces, blurring
The days that go by ‘til you’re unrecognizable
I might not be moving but at least I’m in transit
To a better place
Après un rêve,
Composed: Gabriel Fauré
Poem:Romain Bussine
Performers: Katharine Courtemanche, soprano; Benjamin P. Wenzelberg, piano
[French]
Dans un sommeil que charmait ton image
Je rêvais le bonheur, ardent mirage,
Tes yeux étaient plus doux, ta voix pure et sonore,
Tu rayonnais comme un ciel éclairé par l'aurore;
Tu m'appelais et je quittais la terre
Pour m'enfuir avec toi vers la lumière,
Les cieux pour nous entr'ouvraient leurs nues,
Splendeurs inconnues, lueurs divines entrevues,
Hélas! Hélas! triste réveil des songes
Je t'appelle, ô nuit, rends moi tes mensonges,
Reviens, reviens radieuse,
Reviens ô nuit mystérieuse!
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[English]
In sleep charmed by a vision of you
I dreamed of happiness, ardent illusion;
Your eyes were softer, your voice pure and ringing,
You were radiant like a sky brightened by the dawn.
You called me, and I left the Earth
To flee with you toward the light,
The skies, for us, opened their clouds
And we glimpsed unknown splendors, secret divine glimmers.
Alas! Alas! Melancholy awakening from dreams
I call you, O Night, return to me your delusions
Return, return Radiant
Return, O Mysterious Night!