Off Beat
The joy of a well-syncopated rhythm comes from a balance between the main beat and the accents around it, which makes a groove rich and interesting. The Offbeat is the point in time that lies exactly in the middle between two pulses of rhythm. It is the extra layer that makes a track sound so special.
Much the same way- smaller projects influence bigger ones. They are the supplement, the important extra layer to the usual beat of my creative journey. Here are a few select Offbeat projects.
TEDx Youth
In 2013 I was invited to speak at a TEDx Youth conference- the first of it’s kind in France. We spent an inspiring day listening to presentations by speakers from France, the US and Israel. The conference took place at Boulogne Billancourt, a suburb of Paris. Topics included music, rhythm, technology, photography and more. My TEDx talk is named How Rhythm Can Change Reality, and is available on YouTube: youtube.com/watch-michael-speak
Le Nid
An original theatrical piece created by Allan McCormick and myself. The show explores the inner working of the heart and mind in the fight with our own inner demons. The audience is taken through a series of emotional reflections that invite them to be one with their own feelings: where things are not necessarily perfect, but there is still beauty to be experienced. As co-creator I directed, composed, choreographed and performed with an ensemble of 12 artists of all theatrical disciplines- dancers, actors, singers, musicians, spoken word artists, clowns, acrobatics and more.
Le Nid was showcased in the spring of 2017 at The New 42nd Street Studios as a benefit for Dancers Responding to AIDS, sponsored by Broadway Cares.
J-Teen Leadership
J-Teen Leadership is a community service and leadership development organization for Jewish high school students from all backgrounds and affiliations. It provides a platform for teens to develop a collective voice, connect to other teens and become change-agents in repairing the world.
Teen-led projects planned by teens, for teens who want to make a difference in the world today are happening through local programs and long distance service projects.
Michael has an ongoing collaboration with J-Teen Leadership (jteenleadership.org) in New York, Detroit, Houston and beyond. Recognizing that teens are critical thinkers who can mobilize and motivate their peers, Michael brings music and rhythm as a universal tool for non-verbal communication.
HVCCA
In February 2016 I was invited to collaborate with The Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art (HVCCA) as an artist in residence. I worked with the HVCCA’s Director of Education to create a two-week in-school program for The Summit Academy in Peekskill, NY. During that time I met with the students daily to work on rhythmic and performance exercises, plus share leadership skills, eventually creating a drumming piece that they had the chance to show during an assembly.
“Watching the students work with a talented artist like Michael Feigenbaum is so special and unique. They have been so receptive and participatory, it’s really beautiful to witness! Michael has been doing such a stellar job.”
– Donna Mikkelsen
Director of Education, HVCCA”