Noémie Lafrance's 'The Whitebox Project' at Black and White Gallery challenges audience participation

Noémie Lafrance presented 'The Whitebox Project' at Black and White Gallery/Project Space in Williamsburg during September 2011. Performances occurred on Saturdays September 10, 17, and 24 at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30pm, with tickets priced at $15, and extended to Sunday September 25 at 6:30 and 7:30pm. The venue's concrete backyard hosted audiences who anticipated the flash mob-influenced performance. Approximately 20 dancers emerged from the crowd, executing postmodern movements including walking, running, shouting, kicking, and cheerleader-like formations. Some performers undressed within the group, then redressed, while herding audience members and encouraging participation. A post-show discussion integral to the piece revealed Lafrance's aim to dissolve boundaries between performers and viewers, seeking physical engagement from spectators. The concept draws from decades of theatrical convention destabilization, including 1990s resurgence, though theorist Jacques Rancière's book 'The Emancipation of the Spectator' argues against assuming viewer roles are less free or interesting. Critics note viewer experience inherently involves active thought and response, questioning why dancing or verbal feedback should be required. Despite striking visuals, the work reflects cultural pressures for affirmation through participation, potentially diminishing individual reactions to visual material.