Of the Valley,
of the Wind
a new dance
In Of the Valley, of the Wind, circular, sweeping motions signify the aging process. Repetitive movements, seen at ever-changing angles, illuminate the situation of dancers who practice somatic and athletic approaches to movement. Two dancers moving in close proximity to each other relate to a common metronomic structure. A constant rhythmic signature guides precise, yet expansive movements in spatial patterns that suggest waves, clocks, wet clay, and flowers. Building in intensity and image, we observe the same material held and handled, folded and thrown, by two people who are not identical, obviously of different ages and genders. The unlikely pair tell stories about how their bodies have been molded independently over decades. Like clouds that gather, their individualistic expressions merge, transcending design and iconography. By resisting their optical identities, they become singular, mutually dependent. Plural. United by contrast, their dance evokes core social questions of bodily impermanence and perseverance.
Research Process
The duet is inspired by my relationship with dancers of previous generations. My ambition is to make a performance with an older dancer to increase the visibility of dancers working late in life, and to create a spectacle that highlights the beauty of how they engage with full-bodied choreography. As the dance market perpetuates a fixation on youthful bodies, my project counteracts the invisibility older dancers face when continuing to dance professionally. As a queer dancer and teacher I critically examine the unsustainability of hierarchical structures in Western dance culture, in particular, sexism and ageism.
Link to performer, Regina Baumgart’s Web Page.
Photography by James Roberts