This semester I am guest lecturer at The University of the West of Scotland on the Performance bachelors, where I’m leading the devising module with a site-responsive project at Cragie House in Ayr. The students are learning choreographic skills, developing collaborative devising, critical feedback and making a performance in the site, to be presented publicly and moderated by myself and core staff at the end of March.
Programme note:
This term has been a collaborative exploration of site responsive choreographic research. Collectively the students have interrogated Craigie house as the site for generative movement work and produced a set of specific performances in the building. Together we thought beyond ‘dance’ and explored how we can use somatic enquiry to achieve a deeper understanding of place-making, positionality, character and ultimately collaboration. Whilst doing so we remained committed to contextualising our group practice within the bounds of what Craigie House offers; this required an attentive and honest group research practice that combined reading, creative writing, critical discussion and experiential research. The results of this research are a sharing in the bathroom, utilising the mirrors and cublices, a journey up and down the central staircase, a story derived from a ceramic tile and a scored dance inspired by the decorative plasterwork on the ceiling of the great room. It’s been a pleasure to work with this enthusiastic cohort on a module that pushes the boundaries of devising techniques through engagement with alternative performance sites and styles.
