Group Acorde’s Premiere “Beat” Explores What’s at the Heart of Mental Health and Resilience

There’s an intriguing link between the heart and your mental health. Studies reveal that a consistently elevated resting heart rate may signal anxiety, depression or even PTSD, long before other symptoms appear. The rapid pulse during moments of stress is not just a physical reaction—it’s a window into the mind’s struggles. For Group Acorde, this connection between the heartbeat and mental well-being forms the foundation of their latest work, Beat. 

Premiering October 3 and 4, at Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH), Beat uses the rhythm of the heart to explore the emotional toll of trauma and how movement and music can help regulate both the heart and the mind. Blending contemporary dance, live music, and visual art, the evening features two new pieces: “Batimento Cardiaco” and “Vessel (excerpt).” Created by co-founders Roberta Paixao Cortes and Lindsey McGill, in collaboration with composer Thomas Helton and soprano Natasha Manley, Beat invites the audience into a thought-provoking experience that aims to resonate on both an emotional and intellectual level.

The heart of Beat lies in the company’s ongoing interest in the therapeutic effects of movement. “This season we’ve partnered with The MendCenter, an organization offering mental health services in The Heights, conducting workshops that have sparked our conversations around mental health,” says Cortes. As Houston recovered from back-to-back episodes of destruction and power outages Cortes and McGill’s dialog became a catalyst for investigation. “In our first season, we had shows canceled because of Hurricane Harvey,” Cortes recalls. “Between floods and the pandemic, it feels like there’s always another wave, another hit for individuals and the city.”  Their research into how trauma—particularly the recurring natural disasters faced by Houstonians—affects both the body and the mind underpins the themes explored in their latest work.

For “Batimento Cardiaco,” which is the Portuguese phrase for “heartbeat,” the company examines the body’s fear and anxiety response in moments of distress and the role of music and dance in regulating the heart rate. Composed by Helton, this work will feature a mix of written and improvisational music performed by his musical group Relative Dissonance. Helton’s use of a stopwatch to indicate the length of sections adds a layer of flexibility to the score, allowing for moments of spontaneity within the performance. McGill describes the process as an ongoing conversation between dancers and musicians: “Sometimes we follow the music, sometimes they follow us. It’s always evolving.” This collaboration marks the first time Group Acorde, known for highlighting musicians as an integral part of the performance on stage, will perform with a larger ensemble. 

Adding another dimension to the performance, Andre Amaral, a Brazilian artist and longtime collaborator with the company will contribute innovative set design. Playing with layers of vibrant color and perspective, he gives new life to salvaged inks and plexiglass to create images that vary depending on the viewer’s angle.

Group Acorde introduced “Vessel (excerpt)” as a work in progress at the MET Dance summer showcase and officially debut the work in Beat. It is their first musical collaboration with soprano Manley, who is a classically trained soprano and has long been involved behind the scenes in Houston’s dance community. She explores a range of vocal sounds in this work, going beyond traditional composition to explore moments of improvisation. “Natasha’s voice is so beautiful and really brings a different texture to the movement,” Cortes notes. 

McGill acknowledges the vulnerability at the core of Beat for the performers and potentially for the audience. “Movement is visceral. We have the option to convey these emotions—rage, discomfort, anxiety—theatrically through texture, tempo and expression as well as by going there in our bodies.” Adding that these are emotions that often people hide away, McGill says that Group Acorde embraces “ugly” or discomforting moments in their work. “Sometimes we’re not in sync, and that’s part of what Beat is about—our separate heartbeats, our separate traumas.” By bravely putting their own emotions on display, Group Acorde creates a space where the audience can not only relate to the performers but find inspiration to reflect on their own experiences, connect to their bodies or discover resilience within.

In keeping with Group Acorde’s mission to foster dialogue between performers and audiences, each performance of Beat will be followed by a Q&A session, where the audience can ask questions and engage directly with the artists. These post-show discussions are often as illuminating as the performances themselves, offering deeper insight into the creative process and the emotional landscape explored on stage.

“We always hope the audience will connect with one element or another,” Cortes said. “Whether it’s the dance, the music or the visuals, there’s always something there for them to engage with.”

Group Acorde’s Beat will premiere at MATCHBOX 2 on October 3 and 4, 2024. Tickets are available through the MATCH website. General admission is $32, with discounted rates for students and industry professionals. For more information, visit www.groupacorde.org.