behind the scenes: a new work

At this point in the developmental stage of this work we are currently experimenting a lot throughout this process. Using this experimental process we have used improvisation to build ideas into the work. The idea behind some of these experiments is how women are told “no” in this world. Although the topic of women and empowerment is a huge movement in society right now, it isn’t everywhere. We have pulled scenarios from these circumstances and developed them into phrase work. To illustrate, we have played with the idea of being pushed down and not being able to rise up by creating a phrase entirely on the stomach.

Physically it feels heavy almost as if a rock is crushing you. This feeling of being heavy correlates with being smothered. To me, it reminds me of being held down by a relationship where it is nearly impossible to get up. In the progression of this phrase on the stomach we are constantly building in movement out of frustration. This phrase represents a constant struggle. Knowing that you are fighting and trying to get out from this and you can't because you are constantly being pushed down time after time.

So far, this is what I have taken from the physical movement but we still have development time to go. I am curious to see if this feeling changes or what comes of it when we display it on stage during the 3 city tour…

​more to come!