Approach the Hub. Courteous Firmness with the Young People in the Doorway. Enter Building.
Latch on Door.
Move Tables. Hoover Floor. Check Time.
2 Others arrive to join in. There are now four. This is exciting. And nerve racking. It's safer when no-one comes, really.
Check in. How are you? I'm fine/tired/nervous/glad to be here and lots of other things besides. Stories of mud, headaches, memories ...
New people mean we take longer to warm up. We can't just race in. We look around the room, check out details, things we hadn't noticed before. Nuts on the door that look like nipples...
A switch that might explode if someone turns it on. (They it, and it didn't).
Standing circle, we enter a physical warm up. Taking a movement, sharing it, changing it at will, playing with it. This is a playful group. I like this group. The movement gets tossed back and forth, like a blustery spring breeze. We, the leaves and empty drinks cans, rattling about, chaotic semi-conductors.
Now, we are ready to begin. The Blind and the Guide. Like last week, but there are more of us, so we can continue the experiment, introducing random factors.
Dependent Variable - moving in response to a touch.
Independent Variable - touching
Equipment - 4 movements artists. Each will in turn take roles of Blind or Guide, so that the affects of 'passive/active' personality factors, characteristic movement factors, practice and individual dynamics can be experienced.
In this kind of experiment, experienced is akin to introspectively studied, its the opposite from observed. Data can only be reliably verified through repeated replication and discourse analysis.
The Blind - a physical performer who has their eyes closed. All movement is initially directed by the Guide. The Blind is a passive participant, and they have two purposes. To return to their neutral position, and to move in response to the touch of the Guide. At first the Blind's feet are firmly rooted to the floor. Movement is minimal. When they reach limit of their available move, they stop. when the Guide releases the touch, the Blind returns to neutral.
The Guide - a physical performer who has their eyes open, and can see (unless they are in real life, blind, which would be a very interesting variable!). They instruct the Blind's movements through touch. Not push, just a touch, as light as is possible. They need to become aware, through practice, of the Blinds range of movement, and of the clarity of their instruction.
No Blind/Guide dyad is the same. The rules will change with each pairing. Control brings responsibility and requires understanding. Control will always be limited to the available range of moves and the interpretation of purpose. Responsiveness needs acute senstivity to the purpose of the Guide, and also an awareness of ones own range of movement - otherwise trips and falls occur!
In the first condition, the Guide is rooted to the floor. Their movements are limited. Each physical performer takes turns to take on each role. They interpret the rules as they go along - where the Guide touches, how the Blind responds. What happens when the touch is released. What happens in the moments - sometimes long moments, between touches?
It is at times frustrating, purposes, interpretations, things getting lost in translation, not knowing what it means to 'let go' and 'give up control', making up the rules then modifying them.
It is at times beautifully relaxing and absorbing. Entrancing. When the pair find a rhythm, feel the rules, the flow of the rhythm, become attuned to each other, something very special happens. The Guide - the brain, initiator, knowing, sensitively instructing; the Blind, the body, receptive and aware, feeling, sensitively responding.
Time taken - 10 minutes, then swap roles.
In the second condition, the Blind can move their legs. This frees them up a lot, and allows for a greater range of movements, and also a greater range of interpretations of intent and sensitivity/awareness of range of movements. Trust becomes an issue, especially when there is more than one dyad active, it is not just the room, but other people that need to be negotiated.
Time taken - 7 minutes, then swap roles. Time is less due to the fact that the session is coming to a close and I want to fit in the dance part at the end.
In the third condition, a second independent variable is introduced. Music. The movement, which has already been modified to accomodate travel, becomes a dance. The Blind is allowed greater release, and not just freedom to interpret in a more individual way, but freedom to become more expressive. The music gives a different energy. The role of the Guide is now not to control, but to enable. The Guide also participates in the dance. However they still have a position of responsibility.
Experimenter bias - I deliberately made the larger performers (who happened to be male) the Guides, and the smaller performers ( who happened to be female) the Blinds. This is because we only had time to do this once, and wouldn't be able to swap roles. Due to having previous experience at this procedure, I know that I personally prefer it this way round.
Music - We played Steve Reich. Minimalist. Moody.
As the Blind, I felt wonderfully released. I am sensitised by taking part in the previous conditions, and I am tuned in to the touch of the Guide, who I have partnered with several times before. I have my eyes closed. Like a pre-toddler, I feel that if I can't see anyone else, they can't see me. I am released from inhibition. I smile uncontrollably as I allow my body to move under the guidance of gentle touches, bending, swaying, turning, waving ... sometimes I stand still, untouched, anticipating the next move. I am smiling. Occasionally I trip over myself. I stand on my guides foot. I haven't got a clue where I am in the room, and I don't really care. It all comes to an end far too soon.
Results & conclusion
Are two experiences ever the same? Our interpretations, our responses, our interactions with the processes that we have gone through are all very individual. Each dyad experienced sense of self and other, and the partnership of these two elements, differently. Buber may be relevant here.My anxiety levels have decreased, and I am experiencing relaxation and satisfaction. I feel a closeness to my fellow participant-experimenters. I have partnered with each of them in one way or another and feel grateful to them for sharing this experience with me.
The others in the group say that they feel relaxed. It has been entrancing.
It is stripped back, basic stuff, and has endless possiblities.
We have reached the end.
We pick up our things and say our goodbyes. We turn down the heating and off the lights. Everyone leaves the building while I set the alarm. The Young People are Gone. It is silent. The odd empty drink can and crisp packed has been undisturbed by the evening breeze.
'
No comments:
Post a Comment