Comparing process...dancer reflection

by Sara Spizzichini, dancer in both What Remains? and Me vs. ...

One of the most interesting aspects of being a part of The Missing Peace, in my opinion, has been comparing how each choreographer goes about constructing their own work and story. For instance, having been involved in both Brady’s as well as Jamie’s choreographic process, I have noticed that Brady is more apt to come into the studio with a clear and personal idea whereas Jamie prefers to create more spontaneously surrounding a loose theme.

---What Remains?---

Brady has gone about constructing his piece through structured layering: he has manufactured a main phrase (all with gestures pertaining to elements and effects of Alzheimer’s) and has continually built upon this phrase-work in order to produce additional movement. Brady has explained that the movement (the gesticulations, the repetition, how and where we travel through space) is what relays the chaos, confusion, frustration, and hardship that is experienced by both a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease as well as his or her caretaker (in other words, we are acting as their voice).

Each phrase is, more or less, tagged on as a new section to the piece as it is created, providing for a very systematic choreographic approach. Moving forward, I wonder how each section is meant to flow together and in what particular order? Where does the climax of the piece lie and how exactly will he tie in the desired use of photographs within the work?

---Me vs. ...---

Jamie, on the other hand, has been utilizing improvisational tools and exercises throughout her process to generate the meat of her work. Additionally, she has been framing important questions to us along the way in order to illicit genuine reactions to the subject matter in our movement. These questions and/or statements have involved concept identifiers such as “I am not vs. I am ” and “Do you categorize yourself based on how you personally identify with the world around you or how others tend to perceive you?”, etc.

Jamie has also employed word association as a tool for us to create individual phrases as well as small duets (for example: In one duet, we created a phrase with a partner that we had something in common with and in another, we created a phrase with a different partner based on a topic we did not share an interest in) Much of the framework for Me vs.... is discussion-based and task-oriented; I feel that Jamie’s process is more of a collaboration while, at the same time, allowing for a great amount of self-exploration. As opposed to being a voice for others, we are exhibiting our own voices throughout the piece for others to relate to.

Moving forward, I wonder how each section will take shape, what will tie each section together, and if the piece is relaying a final message or remaining open-ended for its audience at its conclusion?

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Videos taken with Boomerang by Sara Spizzichini in rehearsals for Me vs. ...