Pushing Boundaries of Performance
I am not a dancer, I love dance and as a child I attended dance classes. At drama school, I attended movement classes with the objective of exploring the body to help us understand our limitations and capabilities, in turn to create more effective character movement. I also had to attend ballet classes, not to become a prima ballerina, but to understand discipline, push our fitness and learn another art form to reflect upon.
Scrolling shamefully though Facebook the other day, a dancer friend had shared the most wonderful video of a 1954, "Snake Dance" by French dance duo Janik & Arnaut. Curious and intrigued, I was compelled to watch it. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL4417-33Q0
Now, with my limited knowledge of dance and a theatrical perspective, one thing that I found particularly profound about this performance was that it was clearly pushing the boundaries of performance in 1954. Since then, I have seen all sorts of dance performances and physical theatre creations, but there is something quite remarkable about this snake dance. It differs from so many dances and dance styles (that I am aware of) of the era. It may have even been disliked, hated, shocking, weird. The progression of theatre has followed a similar pathway, each mini evolution sparked a new revolution. Opinions of love and hate that has helped to evolve the arts as we know it. Along came Stanislavski and his methodology of naturalistic theatre following the melodrama and Music Hall era, then along came Brecht whose style was so unusual it was nothing like anyone had seen before. Then Theatre of the Absurd, Grotowski, Boal, Pinter, the list goes on.
What does this mean? To me, the snake dance is a reminder of the importance of the artistic linage of the arts. Many forms and ideas have developed from this moment in time, but have links back too, all interweaved and interconnected. We must remember our artistic heritage and appreciate that our history is part of us and our practice in the modern day. Never forget your heritage, so often it is the foundation of ourselves.
What does this mean? To me, the snake dance is a reminder of the importance of the artistic linage of the arts. Many forms and ideas have developed from this moment in time, but have links back too, all interweaved and interconnected. We must remember our artistic heritage and appreciate that our history is part of us and our practice in the modern day. Never forget your heritage, so often it is the foundation of ourselves.
I love how you say "each mini evolution sparks a new revolution" I instantly thought of the tricks and performers on Britains Got Talent, where talent acts try to create an act more entertaining or shocking than previous years, but I have never seen anything so seemless as this Snake Dance, it is a reminder that we can learn much from our artist history. Thank You for Sharing x
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Charlie. Isn't it really rather wonderful! Do you think things go round in circles though? Music Hall was acts just like Britain's Got Talent 150 years ago!
DeleteHey Jess. I enjoyed how you pointed out that this dance would have been considered "disliked, hated, shocking, weird" in it's time. I like to think that art and theatre have the ability and even the responsibility to push boundaries of 'social norms' and create pieces that are shocking and weird, but leave the audience reflecting upon the injustices of society and how they can perhaps change the idea of 'normal' (a very Brecht ideology, I know). I feel as though art and pushing boundaries are a hand-in-hand combination that lends to the artistic linage.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment Cath. I think each performance tells a story of some sort, so I suppose our creations are part of our professional practice. Artistic lineage, culture, views and beliefs. Pushing boundaries sparks creativity!
Delete