Rehearsal 9 Metamorphic

Metamorphose v. change in form or character

Dancers: Alice Moran and Vicci Viles

In rehearsal 6 the research process had thrown up a lot of different questions. The following question needed further investigation:

Does movement have more value when we can see less of it?

Karl created two very thin beams of light which at their narrowest measured no more than 1cm across. The light source was so slim that when human movement passed through its beams it was difficult to discern which part of the body was being seen. It was possible to develop sequences of movement which created the effect that the actual light was moving as opposed to body in it. In the video footage above it is difficult to identify which parts of the body are being used but at several key moments the dancers' form becomes suddenly recognisable - a hand, the shoulder, the side of a dancer's face. At these moments the movement appears to have greater value.

The result of this rehearsal was called Metamorphic because at times the movement seems to change into light and vice versa. This helps to create a genuine dialogue between light and movement.

Music: Mes by Murcof Martes