FakeKnot

whip

Photo: Marchel B. Eang

FakeKnot creates collaborative performance works that strive to understand the complexities of identity and culture through costume, sound, technology and the body. Artistic Director Ralph Escamillan gathers his breadth of experience as a dancer from street, commercial and contemporary dance to create a truly unique choreographic perspective, while also questioning his identity as a queer person of color. FakeKnot’s work focuses on a highly collaborative process. Past collaborators include New Media Artists Sammy Chien, Nancy Lee and Milton Lim, Sound Designer Stefan Seslija, and local brands such as Lululemon Lab and Five Left Leather. The drive to pursue collaborative work stems from Ralph’s interest in establishing connections between and within the intersecting worlds he comes from, using his work in FakeKnot as the vessel for this discourse.

whip

'whip' is a duet performed entirely in leather hoods, leaving the dancers blind for the duration of the performance. Inspired by the virtuosic head-whip motion found in a multitude of dance forms, the duality of the leather being both soft and hard are revealed through the work. New ways to use the body as a medium for communication are explored, visually enhanced through the incorporation of interactive new media lighting and originally composed sound design. The circling of the head creates a trance-like state in both the performer and the audience. By covering the faces of the performers their identities are concealed, and this anonymity seeks to make the audience both uncomfortable and committed to the performers throughout the work. The piece references varied forms of touch — from the mundane to the extreme — tapping into the nuance of these connection points; illuminating new meaning.

Performance History

- HINKYPUNK: Arts Court, Ottawa - September 23-24, 2021; Masonic Temple, St. John’s - September 8, 2021.
- whip: MAI, Montreal - premiere - November 3-6, 2021.
- BLUSCRN: LUNA Festival - Revelstoke, BC - premiere - September 24, 2022.

Project Details

Project created by: FakeKnot

Key Collaborators: Artistic Direction/Choreography - Ralph Escamillan (FakeKnot); Dancers - Daria Mikhaylyuk, Ralph Escamillan; Leather Hoods - Five Left Leather (Lincoln Heller); Costumes - Robyn J. Laxamana; Sound - Stefan Nazarevich ; Lighting Designer & Live Operator: Andie Lloyd; Motion Tracking System & New Media Design: Sammy Chien (Chimerik 似不像 Collective); Lighting Design Mentor: Jonathan Kim (Chimerik 似不像 Collective); Dramaturge - Su-Feh Lee and Josh Martin; Fabric Sponsor - Lululemon

Audience: General Audience

Length in minutes: 60 minutes - Full length work

Space required:

Preparation required: 2-3 days (6hrs/day)

General technical requirements: LIGHTING HARDWARE: 25 x 750w ETC Source 4 body w/ unified C-clamps & new or gently used lamps; 25 x 36 degree lens for Source 4. THEATRICAL SET-UP & HARDWARE: Seating: In-the-round; 2 x water based hazer & unscented fluid (or enough to fill the space). NEW MEDIA HARDWARE: 1 x Intel RealSense 3D Camera + mounting hardware; 1 x 50’ powered USB cable (or long enough to reach from camera to operator); 1 x Macbook Pro; 1 x Isadora 3 license. SOUND: Behringer X32 digital soundboard (32 xlr, 40 inputs and 16 bus); Soundcraft FX16 soundboard (16 xlr, 3 aux and reverb); Allen & Heath PA12 soundboard (8 xlr, 3 aux and reverb); 1 QSC RMX 2450a amplifier (for EAW MK 2126 e); 1 QSC RMX1850 HD amplifier (for Subwooker JBL MP 418S ); 1 Bryston 4B amplifier (for QSC E110); 2 way cross-over analog, DBX 223xl ; EAW MK 2126 e speakers 2 way (PA High); JBL MP 418S sub speakers (4 Ohm) (PA sub); QSC E110 speakers (monitor: rear or stage); 4 Yamaha MSR 400 2 ways speakers (powered); 2 QSC K8 2 ways speakers (powered); 2 QSC K8.2 2 ways speakers (powered); 2 QSC MS112 subwoofer speakers (powered)

Availability: Available to tour during the spring 2022/23 season: March 13 to April 14, & May 15 to June 30; NOT AVAILABLE April 17 - May 7 2023: Residency & Premiere of new work titled Piña at SFU Woodward's.

Available to tour during the 2023/24 season: July 1-31 2023 & Apr 1 2024 to June 30 2024

Currently unknown for the 2024/25 season.

Number of performers on tour including choreographer: 2

Number of support staff on tour: Lighting Designer/Technical Director, Stage Manager & Company Manager

Community Engagement Activities

We’d like to engage with all communities, giving special attention to those who may face various barriers to opportunity—be it systemic, financial or some other. In the spirit of inclusivity, there is no specific age group or level of ability that we target. While in person community engagement is more suitable for activities centered around movement, such as in the form of dance workshops, engaging communities with our work can take other forms such as through online talks, and by giving an inside look into our process using social media platforms.

Contact: FakeKnot, jonathan@fakeknot.com Agent/Manager: Francesca Piscopo, francesca@fakeknot.com

Website: ralphescamillan.com/fakeknot

Facebook: fakenot

Instagram: fakenot

Photo: Marchel B. Eang