Hainaux and Chaignaud Perform Mirlitons in Los Angeles
The experimental performance took place at the UCLA Nimoy Theater over the weekend.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Performance Art
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Aymeric Hainaux and François Chaignaud brought their experimental piece Mirlitons to the UCLA Nimoy Theater. The intimate performance utilized vocal percussion and complex footwork to explore a seven-beat rhythm.
Why it matters
The performers sought to create a raw collaboration between music and physical movement. By utilizing a seven-beat structure, they intended to move away from standard musical conventions like four or eight-count rhythms.
The production featured roughly 50 spectators and was developed by the artists over a period of three years. It is built upon a unique seven-beat rhythm structure.
The players
Aymeric Hainaux
He is an artist known for vocal percussion who began his career in 2005 and founded Isola Records in 2011.
François Chaignaud
He is a performer who collaborates on physical movement pieces and first approached Hainaux in Paris.
The details
The performance featured vocal percussion from Hainaux and physical footwork from Chaignaud, accompanied by sticks with brassy bells and a jacket covered in metal charms. The duo utilized microphones and specific physical movements to craft their sound on a platform surrounded by chairs and cushions.
Timeline
Aymeric Hainaux began his artistic career in 2005.
François Chaignaud approached Hainaux after a 2010 performance in Paris.
Hainaux founded Isola Records in 2011.
The performance of Mirlitons occurred on October 23-24, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This production represents a departure from the historical musical reliance on four-count and eight-count rhythmic structures. By utilizing a seven-beat cycle, the performers challenge established conventions within the broader field of experimental performance art.
The intimate nature of the performance, staged on a platform surrounded by chairs, limited the capacity to approximately 50 spectators. Future presentations of such experimental works may require early reservation due to limited venue footprints.
The takeaway
Experimental collaborations often require years of development to break away from traditional rhythmic foundations. Artists can create entirely new sonic environments by replacing standard percussion instruments with everyday objects and physical movement.
Further reading
Learn more about the local arts scene at Los Angeles Performance Art.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Bruin.
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