As If (2014) uses notions of memory and recall as its foundation, pulling from childhood recollections, collective consciousness, cross-cultural ideas of play and games. The project’s text was generated from Google search results of phrases and conversations by the group, like “as if by magic…”, and crafted into poetry by Vito Pasquale that is used for spoken word, video projection and song. The choreography, by Stephen Pier and Megumi Masaki, is inspired by childhood hand-clapping games and “Awa-Odori“, a Japanese, saki-induced procession from the 1500’s. The projected poetry with video shadow play designed by Gene Gort is generated live and programmed by Timothy Lawless. The composition is extracted from the dominant memories of Megumi Masaki and Ken Steen as pianist and composer, and performed on piano with electronically processed sound – written and performed works that have formed the basis of their growth as artists and connections to their musical past.

The project is the inaugural work by the Slingshot Kido collective.