Trendy - Sexy - Superficial - April 2020
British dance has recently caught a disease - it’s not Covid-19, there’s no vaccine and we’re experiencing an epidemic. In fact many people don’t seem to mind having it. It’s rather contagious and has infiltrated the dance community.
I don’t have a name for it. Yet.
I don’t know its limitations or possibilities, I haven’t documented all its forms so it’s hard to measure the length and breadth.
What I do know is that it’s trendy, sexy, and superficial.
That’s the name I’ve given to it: Trendy - Sexy - Superficial.
Frankly I blame Instagram, and the Conservative Party of the UK.
CASE STUDIES
Written from the perspective of a sexy brotherfucker...
Look at my sexy body. With all my training. I’ve posted a video of myself ‘dancing’. I’ve placed my phone in front of the mirror so I can see myself while I move. I’m going to show you some tricks. If I trained in the UK that will likely be something leggy and spiney. If I trained in Belgium it’ll be some breakdancing or acrobatics even though, apparently, I'm a contemporary dancer - maybe I’ll do what I call a fish. God I look hot, you know I could be a model - I’m just so fucking sexy. Hey Hofesh, Wayne, Larbi, you watching this?
Written from the perspective of a confused, extremely middle class and white dance theatre...
I’m a dance organisation. Historically a contemporary dance organisation but recently I’ve had a bit of an identity crisis. Facing increasing pressure (rightly so) to engage with more BAME people (for anyone who doesn’t work at the Arts Council that’s an acronym for Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic), I’ve decided to diversify. I’m a little unsure what that means but I look for BAME artists working in contemporary dance and don’t find much. Where are they? Do BAME people do contemporary dance? That’s a stupid question - BAME people aren’t one person. And no they don’t tend to. 'Why don't they?' I ask myself - thinking, ignorantly, contemporary dance is accessible for everyone. Disappointed and frustrated that everyone is white and middle class I turn to Hip Hop and Kathak and Bharatanatyam. Problem solved - I, the organisation, now serve everyone in the community. Welcome Dev, Shanice and Amir. As well as Amanda, Gerald, Stephen, Julia, Annabel, and Susan.
I don’t have a name for it. Yet.
I don’t know its limitations or possibilities, I haven’t documented all its forms so it’s hard to measure the length and breadth.
What I do know is that it’s trendy, sexy, and superficial.
That’s the name I’ve given to it: Trendy - Sexy - Superficial.
Frankly I blame Instagram, and the Conservative Party of the UK.
CASE STUDIES
Written from the perspective of a sexy brotherfucker...
Look at my sexy body. With all my training. I’ve posted a video of myself ‘dancing’. I’ve placed my phone in front of the mirror so I can see myself while I move. I’m going to show you some tricks. If I trained in the UK that will likely be something leggy and spiney. If I trained in Belgium it’ll be some breakdancing or acrobatics even though, apparently, I'm a contemporary dancer - maybe I’ll do what I call a fish. God I look hot, you know I could be a model - I’m just so fucking sexy. Hey Hofesh, Wayne, Larbi, you watching this?
Written from the perspective of a confused, extremely middle class and white dance theatre...
I’m a dance organisation. Historically a contemporary dance organisation but recently I’ve had a bit of an identity crisis. Facing increasing pressure (rightly so) to engage with more BAME people (for anyone who doesn’t work at the Arts Council that’s an acronym for Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic), I’ve decided to diversify. I’m a little unsure what that means but I look for BAME artists working in contemporary dance and don’t find much. Where are they? Do BAME people do contemporary dance? That’s a stupid question - BAME people aren’t one person. And no they don’t tend to. 'Why don't they?' I ask myself - thinking, ignorantly, contemporary dance is accessible for everyone. Disappointed and frustrated that everyone is white and middle class I turn to Hip Hop and Kathak and Bharatanatyam. Problem solved - I, the organisation, now serve everyone in the community. Welcome Dev, Shanice and Amir. As well as Amanda, Gerald, Stephen, Julia, Annabel, and Susan.
The Loneliness Practice - February 2020
Charting the existences of a single foreigner
I begin the practice with some regulations: it is a daily, emotional practice encompassing the following things:
Free time involves cycling to the park and reading. At the time of writing my favourite park is Middelheim in Antwerp. I'm re-reading Caitlin Moran's 'How To Build a Girl'.
QUOTES
I begin the practice with some regulations: it is a daily, emotional practice encompassing the following things:
- What does loneliness look like?
- How do we feel it?
- Where on the body do I feel it?
- Do I feel embarrassed to be lonely?
Free time involves cycling to the park and reading. At the time of writing my favourite park is Middelheim in Antwerp. I'm re-reading Caitlin Moran's 'How To Build a Girl'.
QUOTES
- 'Let's be lonely together!'
- 'You don't look lonely.'
- 'I want to be lonelier.'
- 'Give me an L, give me and O...'