Dances From a Pandemic
Dances From a Pandemic is a collaboration between Proper Motion and La Infinita Compania (Mexico). It was conducted during lockdowns of 2020, and led to the development of Optimal Stopping.
COVID-19 has altered social constructs, how we connect, communicate and relate to one another. In response to these changes Dances From a Pandemic has been developed remotely with a group of award winning dancers from the South Coast of NSW, and six of Mexico's most celebrated contemporary dancers . It is a work about connection, exchange, adaptation and shared experience across cultures and borders.
Dances From. a Pandemic is the precursor to Optimal Stopping which was subsequently created after developing work remotely sparked interest in new choreographic processes.
The premise of the work is that it will only ever be rehearsed remotely, meaning the eventual performances are the only times this particular group of dancers will dance together. The performers follow a score developed remotely, with certain roles and responsibilities throughout the work being chosen randomly before each performance (thank you Merce), allowing the freshness and danger of the very first run to be replicated for further performances. So essentially, the audience will witness the dancers getting to know each other and the work during the performance while they respond to the space, the score and each other in real time. There is potential for failure definitely, but this forms part of the choreographic interest. How do we view a dance work performed by the very best of skilled dancers that is not timed to perfection, that has space for error and room for personal, cultural and linguistic interpretation? Without the benefit of hours of in person rehearsal we witness dancers use their finely tuned instincts and superior skills in terms of navigating space and time.
The development of this work was made possible through a Wollongong City Council Quick Response grant.
Image of Opal Russell and Raul Tamez by Children of the Revolution