Los Angeles Ballet Company, Memoryhouse Platform

In 2019, reputed choreographer Melissa Barak approached our design team to create a multifunctional dance platform for her modern ballet, Memoryhouse. Inspired by Max Richter's evocative classical album of the same name, Barak utilized Richter's haunting compositions as the backdrop for a poignant narrative about the Holocaust. This ambitious project encompassed a two-act ballet with the design platform serving as the central element in the second act.

Within the ballet, the platform has three distinct configurations: Position One is a dining table representing pre-war gatherings; Position Two is a ramp symbolizing the harrowing Stairs of Death at Mauthausen; and Position Three is an elevated platform signifying triumph over persecution.

The dance platform is the primary design element on the stage, and its multifunctional positioning and adaptability is integral as a companion to the dancers as well as contributing to the experiential and conceptual storytelling of the Memoryhouse ballet.

The challenge was to design a kinetic platform that could support at least three men and three women simultaneously yet remain fluid enough for easy reconfiguration during the performance. Structural integrity was key to achieving a precise balance of stability and flexibility, ensuring it could withstand the varying weight and movements of the dancers and enable flawless execution of the choreography. Additionally, the platform needed to be transportable to accommodate the show's global touring aspirations.

Working with the fabricator, the design team conceptualized and developed a plan where a structure was made with a welded steel frame reinforced with support brackets then clad with thick plywood panels covered in white Marley sheets, the standard dancing surface for ballet. The entire platform adhered to a minimalist white aesthetic to allow for an interplay of light and shadow with each dancer’s movements.

Status: Completed 2023

Project Type: Custom Design Platform

Partners: Hagy Belzberg, Jennifer Wu

Project Team: Amanda Schwarz, Kristofer Leese, Jenny Fontenot, David Cheung

Photo Credit: © Cheryl Mann
Video Credit: © Selena Moshell