Eye flight

Today I read an interesting collection of independent artists talking about how they approach a practice of presence in performance. I was really interested at the different views as I have thought about me being present as a performer. I am going to talk about a couple that I really found interesting and connected with.

Wendy Houstoun. Performer, director, filmmaker. (2003)

Houstoun talks about performances she enjoys being ones that create ‘danger’ for the spectator. She enjoys the feeling of ‘not knowing’; where you can sense something is going on but you cannot see it. The idea of choreography not being ‘obvious’ and holding mystery for the audience really interests me, as I sometimes think I am too literal whilst choreographing and really enjoy pieces of work that make me think about what’s really going on. Houstoun also says a performance can be “more about what you hold back than what you give. Allowing people to witness. I like to think of it as hiding in front of something”

Mary Prestidge (2003)

The idea of presence in performance is clear as Prestidge talks of performers being ‘real’ and how she is hooked on and attracted to somebody’s journey when they are truly engaged in what they are doing. “I like to see people as real as possible.” When I think of a performance being ‘real’ I think of something really raw and the performer being genuine; truly connected and have a purpose for being on the stage, moving the way they are moving and feeling the way that they portray.

Maedee Depres (2004)

I was really interested whilst reading Depres’ ideas of presence as she speaks about the performer ‘giving their all’ which is something I have wrote about me as a performer and dancer numerous times. She says a performer ‘gives their all’ due to a learnt channelling of energy to project a choreographic meaning to an audience (which entails talent, of course).

She speaks also of the use of focus and the eyes as a performer. “The role of the eyes provides a vehicle for that clarity of intention” this is something that I am also interested in as I struggle with my use of focus in my technique. Knowing where my focus is and using my eyes as part of the choreography rather than an ‘add on’ will help me portray meaning and clarity to my movement.