Overview
A series of eight works presented at The Place Theatre, London, each challenging the notion of what constitutes choreography. By looking at casual or pedestrian action, actions not typically thought of as dance and re-framing this movement the exhibition sought to present everyday movement as choreography in its own right. In Choreography there were no trained dancers and no theatres.
Further Details
The exhibition re-thinks the idea of pedestrian choreography as created by the inadvertent movements of the public. Initially investigated in the 1960’s and 1970’s through performances by choreographers such as Trisha Brown and Yvonne Rainer, looking at everyday movement as a new vocabulary for dance and performance. The work shown in Choreography expanded on these ideas though the employment of mixed media and new technology, many of the pieces presented also drew attention to the viewer’s movement as part of the choreography.
List of pieces
1 Second Choreography: 1m x 1m paint on canvas.
3 super-imposed frames of movement taken from an overhead shot of commuters in Liverpool street station.
3 Minutes: video work.
3 minute looped video of commuters at Liverpool Street station filmed from above. Presented on a 4cm x 4cm LCD screen at the bottom of a plinth, the screen viewed through hole at top.
Move-o-matic: participatory audio work.
A duet created for members of the public. Instructional text delivered simultaneously over headphones. Move-o-matic evolved into Stereo Dances in 2004 with new instructions by choreographer Rosemary Lee.
(Move-o-matic features the voice of Andrew Downs)
Pocket Choreography: small 3-D object. (above image)
A customised pocket puzzle with 16 images of commuters at Liverpool Street Station.
Radio Commentary: audio work. (downloadable below under video documentation)
A 5-minute looped audio monologue describing a dance performance, made in the style of a sports commentary.
(Commentary – Andrew Downs)
10,000: video work.
A 5-minute looped video of Starlings in flight at Brighton’s West Pier.
Bar Hand: installation.
A spotlight, mirrored bar surface and ceiling-mounted frame capturing inadvertent hand movements of audience members at the bar.
Choreography Cards:
Instructional text cards for pedestrian movement sequences. These were developed for Remote Dancing and Other Works in 2004 with new instructions by choreographer Rosemary Lee.
Audio Documentation
Radio Commentary also exists as a web-based work:
Presentations
1999 The Place Theatre, London
Credits
Commentary on Radio Commentary: Andrew Downs