Resonance Collective - SAMĀ

SAMĀ is inspired by the Sufi practice of Sema (“listening”), which is a form of Dhikr (“holy remembrance of the divine”). The most recognized expression of the Sema is the whirling dervish tradition of the Mevlana Order, founded by the 12th Century poet Rumi. Many Sufi practices use music and movement to attain the ecstatic, trance-like state that is the heart of Sema.

The concepts behind SAMĀ are influenced by a number of spiritual practices beyond the Sufi tradition. The goal of the work is not to imitate or even evoke these practices, instead, SAMĀ utilizes the artistic tools of these traditions (drone based music, repetitive visual and rhythmic patterns, ceremonial gesture, bilateral stimulation, etc.) to create a ritual space where performers, and by proxy the audience, can drop into an altered state of consciousness.

SAMĀ is conceptualized as an immersive audio-visual experience for both performers and audience members, featuring live sound, movement, projected animations, and lighting design. The creative team consists of two dancers one percussion-playing vocalist processed through live-electronics, a live video/projection artist, and lighting designer all of whom are responding in real time to the energy of the piece and they explore their own ecstatic state of mind.

Like the whirling dervishes and all transcendental ritual traditions, the purpose of SAMĀ is to find and share meaningful overlap between performance and prayer. 

THE CREATIVE TEAM: Fahad Siadat – Composer and Musician

Described by the LA Times as “a fanciful and downright utopian artist and thinker,” composer and musician Fahad Siadat explores sound as a spiritual practice through interdisciplinary works that unveil the interconnectedness of the world. His music, called “evoking wonder, desire, and terror” (Off Broadway), has been presented by institutions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Broad Stage, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. He directs The Resonance Collective and HEX, LA’s acclaimed new music vocal ensemble, and maintains an active performing and recording career with groups including The Industry and the Grammy-winning ensemble PARTCH. His compositions have been commissioned and performed internationally by ensembles and dance companies including Theater Dybbuk, Rosanna Gamson Dance, and the TOCCATA Orchestra. Learn more at www.fahadsiadat.com

André Megerdichian – Choreographer and Dancer

André Megerdichian has performed with renowned companies and choreographers such as the Limón Dance Company, Dance Kaleidoscope, and Seán Curran, and his choreography has been presented across the United States, Europe, and China. As Co-Founder and Director of New Works for The Resonance Collective, he creates interdisciplinary works exploring transformation and human connection. Rooted in the physical and expressive traditions of modern dance, André’s work reflects the complexities of contemporary life. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina and has taught at institutions including the Limón Institute, the University of Cincinnati, and the Duncan Center Conservatory in Prague. He holds a BFA from Butler University and an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts.

Jennifer Deckert – Choreographer and Dancer

Jennifer Deckert, Director of Dance and Associate Chair at the University of South Carolina, is an accomplished choreographer, educator, and advocate for dancer wellness. A native of St. Louis, she earned her BFA and MFA from the University of Utah, performing with Utah Ballet and Character Dance Ensemble. Her choreographic work includes The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella, and original contemporary pieces such as Fire & Ice and Through the Line. Jennifer has presented at the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition and created a full-length Dracula with composer Sean Stone. A leader in dance science, she has published research on dancer health and serves on the Dance Educators’ Committee for the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS).

Catalina Jackson-Urueña – Dancer

Colombian-American dancer and creative producer Catalina Jackson-Urueña trained in Oakland under Beth Hoge and has performed with artists and companies including dNaga Dance Company, MashUp Contemporary Dance, and Invertigo Dance Theatre. Her work has been presented at venues such as CalArts, MOCA Geffen, The Place London, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Currently the Director of Invertigo’s Dancing Through Parkinson’s program, Catalina also performs with dNaga Dance and leads her event company, Stadium Feedback, while developing a dance app. Based in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, she continues to create work rooted in collaboration, accessibility, and community — and finds joy in dogs and cooking.

Sarah Turner – Projection Artist

Sarah Turner is a new media and video artist who creates immersive environments through analog media and creative coding, blending ritual and mythology to explore the surreal and spiritual in contemporary life. Her work, which merges performance and technology, has been featured at Meow Wolf, the Ann Arbor Film Festival, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art’s TBA Festival, Athens Digital Arts Festival, and the Portland Art Museum, among others. Turner holds an MFA in Electronic Integrated Art from Alfred University and continues to create innovative visual experiences that challenge and expand the boundaries of perception.

R.S. Buck – Lighting Designer

R.S. Buck is a Los Angeles–based international designer, producer, and manager known for creating live experiences that transform spaces into realms of whimsical satisfaction. Their design credits span theater, dance, and interdisciplinary performance, including collaborations with The Resonance Collective, IAMA Theatre Company, Deaf West Theatre, and Invertigo Dance Theatre. Buck’s work has appeared internationally in Israel, Japan, India, China, and Mexico, and nationally at venues such as the Kirk Douglas Theatre and The Broad Stage. They also produce and manage touring works including Formulae and Fairy Tales and CalArts Expo. Buck holds an MFA in Experience Design and Production from the California Institute of the Arts.