about

Through two 2019 performances HDD explored the life and work of Hildegard vong Bingen at the St. John’s Cathedral in Los Angeles. Hildegard, a woman ahead of her time, was a German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, visionary, polymath and is considered to be the founder of scientific natural history. Her work spanned the theological, artistic, and scientific fields in a time when women rarely had the opportunity to speak up.

2019-11-2219-21-454S2_5157
2019-11-2219-47-534S2_5292
2019-11-2219-50-374S3_2165
2019-11-2220-25-284S2_5414
2019-11-2220-33-384S2_5442
2019-11-2220-41-554S2_5498
2019-11-2220-58-244S3_2584
2019-11-2220-59-344S2_5564
2019-11-2319-28-43D4S_6157
2019-11-2319-54-254S2_6516
2019-11-2320-05-11D4S_6181
2019-11-2320-07-334S2_6545
2019-11-2320-11-33D4S_6233
2019-11-2320-14-06D4S_6248
2019-11-2320-20-40D4S_6263
2019-11-2320-24-06D4S_6274
2019-11-2320-36-054S2_6589
2019-11-2320-40-10D4S_6306
2019-11-2320-53-08D4S_6361

Hildegard Herself

November 22 & 23, 2019 – St. John’s Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA. Following The Hour of Hildegard, Duckler’s first installment which explored Hildegard’s Physica, a book health and healing, Hildegard Herself focused on the many elements that made this Saint a radical innovator. The performance took place at St. John’s historical central cathedral, Parish Hall, and courtyard garden, where guests are invited to experience Hildegard’s feminist spirit and legacy. The work explored the multiple dimensions of her innovations in the realms of healing, music, language, and justice.

Choreographed & Directed by Heidi Duckler, Hildegard Herself featuresd HDD company dancers Tess Hewlett, Haylee Nichele, Rafael Quintas, Himerria Wortham, Dominique McDougal and William Jay Ylvisaker. Singers from the Ensemble Vocatrix performed in Hildegard’s original work, Sarah Belle Reid played prepared trumpet with a Minimally Invasive Gesture Sensing Interface (MIGSI) device, and Zach Neufeld played the organ and piano.

Photos by Gary Leonard

A7308162
A7309072
A7308846

The Hour of Hildegard

St. John’s Cathedral Parish Hall, Los Angeles, CA on March 23, 2019. The Hour of Hildegard was the first installment of HDD’s exploration of the work of Hildegard von Bingen. This introductory piece focused on Hildegard’s work Physica, writings on health and her nine healing systems which include the medicinal use of plants, elements, trees, stones, fish, birds, animals, reptiles and metals. It was performed by five dancers with live singers and stories from the workers of the St. John’s Food Pantry.

Photos by Sean Deckert

This performance was made possible with support from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.