Desire Lines Dance Theatre
Blog #1
So this is a start of a 'dancing and talking' experiment. After having seen many performances at Roadhouse event in Leeds, which is an evening of improvised performances, and taking part in a workshop of theirs in Lancaster, I got the urge to give it a try. I've always been in complete awe of these performances, particularly as they are truly improvised, no stimulus, no rough score, no nothing! And improvising movement and voice is something I've had a fascination with for a while (mostly a case of "How Do They Do It?!") I also find that the two artists running Roadhouse, Eleanor Sikorski and Lewys Holt really tickle my surrealist humour (along with Seke Chimutengwende who I've been a fan of for years).
These performer's brilliant surreal humour and storytelling led me to a question - starting with the "How Do They Do It?!" - then a - "I Don't Think I Could Do It Like That!"- and finally leaving me with me with the question - "Well How Would I Do It Then??"
And here we are! So, the other week I booked a studio for an hour and tried out some timed improvisations (copying the structure Roadhouse does in their workshops).
23/06/26
I started with 10 mins, to give myself time to ease into it. I was surprised how quickly I got into it and was enjoying just seeing what comes up.
Being alone released pressure about what came up or how entertaining it is, but it also made me more self-conscious about other people in the building hearing me. You can see the occasional paranoid look to the door! And consequently my voice is far too quiet.
I know from experience this is something that happens when I'm rehearsing alone - I can be shouting about on stage, or when there's someone else in the room with me, but when I'm alone it feels like I'm a kid doing something embarrassing in my room.
Then I tried 1 min, 2 mins, 3 mins, and 5 mins.
I'm pretty satisfied with this is a first proper go. I went along with whatever came up, mostly letting things evolve and saying yes to whatever thought or association I got from what I was doing. Next time, I think I can be less shy about volume of voice. It did improve a bit once the people in the building literally started tap dancing!
Also, that humming sound you hear is the ceiling fan as this was the start of a major heatwave.
Watching it back, I can see how the performers mentioned above have influenced me in the tones and humour. I consciously aimed to emulate how they balance absurdity with logical by going back to ideas and developing them to create a loose story. I also used their method of moving, making a sound, and then finding words which I learnt at their workshop. It felt like a very natural way of finding what the story is.
I also found it interesting to see what came up in the improvisations as I can link almost all of it to something I've seen recently, something that bothers me, or past works I've performed in. That's one of the exciting and scary things about this, it's an open floor for your mind and all of its associations!
I actually first tried this dancing and talking improvisation in my living room a few weeks prior. I can definitely see how improvisation is used as a tool for mental wellbeing because I found it very releasing. Especially in the comfort of my own home, I could really do some weird stuff and let my feelings out in a structured way. In a way, I've always done these kinds of improvisations around the house when I'm home alone, although they mostly consist of gibberish opera, making up songs or doing funny voices. Much less sophisticated...
To be honest, I enjoyed these improvisations more than my regular dancing to music. I tried this at the end, just to fill the extra time I had left in the studio and I didn't make it to the end of the song! Even though the song was 'Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart' by Gene Pitney...
Thanks for reading/watching!
Orla x