As I enter into this second phase of my PaR thesis project I am searching for new ways to relate my personal code-switching experience to the reality of others. In order to explore and research this, I am currently working with three additional dancers – all of whom speak 2 or more languages. This was an important component in choosing to collaborate with other artists because my project is so deeply related to the physical experience of switching between cultural identities and norms. In my current group rehearsal process, I am working on using the unique experiences and backgrounds of my collaborators to generate a basic vocabulary for the work. This vocabulary is a foundational tool in laying the groundwork for jumping off into various choreographic ideas and approaches. As of right now, I am using theatrical elements from my solo experience making this work and incorporating new elements. My current materials list looks like this:
- Yellow caution signs in multiple languages
- Silver unitards
- Broom handles
- Talking in German, English, French, Swiss-German and Spanish
- Pop-culture references (music & lighting)
- Signing (by performers)
- Historical references to German culture from the 1990s (musical artist group “Die Prinzen”)
I am not entirely sure where this next stage in the process is leading me, but so far it has forced me to define who I am different than the dancers I am collaborating with. There are more voices in the studio now, more ideas and perspectives which is complicating my desire and vision for the work. This is also challenging my creative process because I want to please my dancers by making them feel heard in rehearsal, while simultaneously trying to research and push them to try on my perspective… I am not sure if this is translating because we have different experiences.
