Earlier this summer the devisers of Pandæmonium ventured out into the Mojave desert to build a drive-in movie screen, stage a version of the choreography, and collect footage for the live performance. They’ve kindly shared some photos from this endeavor with us as well as some brief recollections of the experience. Consider it a sneak peek of some of the breathtaking imagery this exciting cinematic dance-theater concert has to offer. More info and tickets can be found here.

“The first thing I did in the desert was watch a copperhead rattlesnake get killed. The man who killed it then made us a drive-in movie screen.” Lars Jan (Director, Creator)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)

(photo by Xander Duell)

 

 

“The role of the mannequins was born out there in the desert. We found them on craigslist outside of LA and got to know them for the first time through the filming process. They quickly became an important anchor in the project.” Nichole Canuso (Performer, Creator)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)

“Ten of us lived together in the little house with the jacuzzi in the floor. Annie baked cookies day and night that were irresponsibly good, and many cases of beer were emptied.” Xander Duell (Composer, Live Musician)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)

(photo by Jesse Garrison)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)

 

“We slept in small chunks of time in the middle of the day and in the middle of the night, to give us access to filming at both dusk and dawn. Surrendering to the rhythm of sunset and sunrise each day was beautifully disorienting.” Nichole Canuso (Performer, Creator)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)

(photo by Xander Duell)

“The desert was pretty incredible. It’s such a different sort of wilderness- you get a palpable sense of both the beautiful breadth of the space as well as its savagery. It’s a place that is not at all welcoming to life, so the creatures (and people) who call it home (by necessity or choice) must adapt to survive.” Jesse Garrison (Assistant Video Designer)

(photo by Jesse Garrison)

(photo by Nichole Canuso)