Matt Gough Blog [closed]: perceptual sets
Friday, Sep 3 2004, 01:12
You like watching dance analysing it and writing about it, I watch dance because I like bodies moving in space
I think you have to wake up, there are 1000's of dancers dancing everyday to full houses of appreciative audiences but the work they're doing is worth watching without having an Ma or Phd, to be able to explain/understand why the crap work on the stage was worth seeing in the first place.
I think this indicative of not only kema's opinion of me but some others who read what I put out into the public forum. but wait for a moment, do you really think all that there is to me? there is so much about my own dance practice that I don't write here.. it has another place on article19 in the other blogs and features, I wanted to bring something a little different.
why do so many practitioners have so little regard for the academics who not only have done much to advance the acceptance of dance as a serious art form but are often practicing dance artists themselves?
I watch dance because I am a dancer. in fact my background is musical theatre and I went to bird college. I have appeared in shows from the West End to Broadway and have worked with seminal dance artists in a variety of contexts. my alumni include well respected dancers and dance practice represents 70% of my dance training
I take class and improv jam as much as I am able, and attend dance show because I enjoy watching good dance and I see more shows that I relate here. I teach dance practice and value the importance of practical knowledge. I write about dance, and undertake academic research because I can, clearly such practice is threatening to those with little formal academic dance training. those who know me personally understand how much of value the physical act of dancing and the impact it has has on my theoretical work.
I don't need a phd to teach me about dance and to look at what I see on the stage, I undertake my phd because I enjoy academic study as much as I like dancing.
'One of the problems with contemporary dance is the lack of willingness on the part of those in the profession to engage in any type of debate' yes, and it also extends to analysis and and criticism of works. so much back slapping so little consideration to what is actually being done, particularly when work is based on theoretical concepts. I detail such positions in my analysis not only to help my students create better works but understand why some artists are considered 'better' than others.
you must learn to read before you can write with understanding
matt
[I also didn't realise the dance employment situation was so good, and that so many theatres were packing out with full houses for dance performances]
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