Michal_samama_-_background_materials (original)... May 2026

The performance often moves through non-traditional spaces, such as lobbies, elevator shafts, and basements, treating the venue itself as a "background material" to be excavated.

Samama uses a whistle to make her labored breathing audible, emphasizing the physical exertion required to "be a body". michal_samama_-_background_materials (Original)...

is an evening-length performance piece by choreographer and performer Michal Samama that explores the temporal and spatial aspects of bodily experience. This "deep guide" breaks down the work’s philosophical foundations, its core components, and the unique artistic language Samama employs to turn the periphery of our daily existence into a focused performance event. 1. Conceptual Foundation: The "Background Noise" of Life This "deep guide" breaks down the work’s philosophical

Explores the "mute surroundings" of a space. The performer interacts with the architecture to highlight its elusiveness. Plastic trash bags The performer interacts with the architecture to highlight

Background Materials is a hybrid event that combines two of Samama’s previous performance pieces into a single narrative arc: Core Material Action & Meaning The concrete wall

Reviewers from the New York Times and footage from Vimeo describe several defining features of the work:

This piece is a central part of Samama's broader portfolio, which exists at the intersection of dance, theatre, and visual art. Michal Samama Background Materials