Archive for July, 2009

Having been dancing with silks “a La Loie” for over a decade now, I’m always exploring new ways that the body can move in relation to fabric. In Ghosts (right, 2008), I played with juxtaposing the unison movements of two dancers, one of whom wore a Loie-style cape while the other did not. What interested me was the way that the way the “naked” dancer (Emily Lutin) appeared to shape the space around her — you could almost see the swirls of her invisible cape. We are always moving amidst dynamic unseen forces. Loie’s genius was in creating an art that made these elusive energies visible. In my work, I aim to sculpt the spiraling forces which constantly embrace us.

For my latest project, I’m playing with Loie-style flags. (These are my own invention, not conventional “flagging” flags.) Videographer Linda Lewett shot me improvising, both with my new flags and in my “old” Loie costume.

With the flags, the figure is revealed. It’s possible to see footwork and to execute more “dancey” moves. It’s also possible to cross the arms and to reverse course in ways that would ensnare the cape. I’m working here to find full-body movements that fully integrate the action of the fabric.

Linda and I are planning to collaborate on a dance-for-camera project during the company’s upcoming residency at Vassar. So today’s rehearsal was an opportunity for me to explore movement vocabulary and for her to practice shooting.