aerial cello performance by Cellista this Saturday in Santa Monica

CELLISTA SOARS

"Imagine two of the most difficult tasks one can think of, things that require years of intense training and repetition. Then, fathom the thought that these two endeavors need to be combined into one painstakingly difficult performance. Finally, add in expert-level storytelling that brings universal meaning to these tasks. This is difficult to even think about, let alone do, which is what makes one upcoming performance even more captivating...During the show, the audience will see her playing her cello 15 feet in the air while a live film accompaniment plays alongside her. The physical training has been “pretty intense,” she noted, putting in between 15-20 hours a week of workouts and trapeze practice, including at least 100 push-ups each day to build strength. Alongside building her physical form, she has been biding her time developing a “vocabulary” of melding trapeze with cello performance."

- Thomas Leffler, Santa Monica Daily Press

CELLISTA'S ÉLÉGIE

a one-woman show for aerial cello

Saturday, April 27, 2024

at Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica

The one-hour performance follows the story of Élégie, a blackbird who shape shifts into human form and back, finding serenity through her journey. The soundtrack is a collection of Cellista’s work spanning the last few years and includes original compositions from her albums Finding San Jose and RAGE, with a couple of new works written for the project, as well as a reworking of the hit song “Where Is My Mind?” by Frank Black. Élégie is directed and performed by Cellista. Choreography is by Cellista, Kennedy Kabasares, Elsie Smith, and creative consultation by Joel Baker. The film was edited by Jennifer Gigantino, with cinematography by Bryan Gibel.

Cellista’s live performances have always been acts of resistance art, investigating the ruptures of daily life. They are political, observant, and revealing. They are concerned with breaking down the borders between audiences and performers, disciplines and genres, and juxtaposing seemingly disparate elements.

Cellista plays a Luis & Clarke carbon fibre cello, and an 1885 Czech cello named Chordelia. Her influences include Jean Cocteau, Charlotte Moorman and The Notorious B.I.G. Ultimately she wishes to join professional performing troupes such as Quixotic, Vau de Vire, Freestyle Orchestra, Cirque du Soleil, Les 7 Doigts and to be hired for large scale productions.

EVENT TITLE:

Élégie

by Cellista

TYPE OF EVENT:

One woman aerial cello performance

DATE:

Saturday, April 27, 2024

TIME:

8:30 Doors

9 PM Prologues*

The Zero Collective

Hilary Whitmore and Ron Athey and Christos Tejada

9:30 PM

Cellista's Élégie

10:30 PM

Brief post show discussion

VENUE:

Highways Performance Space

1651 18th St.

Santa Monica, CA 90404

Tel. 310-453-1755

TICKETS:

Available HERE.

https://www.highwaysperformance.org/events/cellista-elegie

15% DISCOUNT CODE (taken at checkout): aerial

*IMPORTANT -- a word from the artist:

"Please note there will be some piercings and some elements of blood during the prologue. There is no intermission and each act flows from one to the other with no break because this is very definitely theater."

HIGH RESOLUTION PUBLICITY IMAGES AND PRESS MATERIALS:

http://www.cellista.net/elegie

password: elegie

Cellista Live Performance Itinerary:

Saturday, April 27th at Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica, CA

Thursday, June 6th at Chapter in Cardiff, UK

Friday, June 7th at Jacksons Lane in London, UK

Sunday, June 9th in Saltburn, UK

MORE DATES TBA

Visit Cellista online:

Website: cellista.net

Facebook: cellista.music