These past two weeks my research partner, Obuchi, and I have challenged ourselves one day a week to find places walking-distance away from our homes to do our dancing research*. Two times now, we have found ourselves agreeing to dance in environments that make us feel combinations of vulnerable, scared and limited. Should I be here? Is this public or private land? What will happen if someone sees me? Wanting to understand more about what these feelings are and why they are, both times we have stayed to do our research. Doing so has led to rich discovery about the state of urban planning and public and private lands in Grinnell; personal histories relating to racism, access and ability to be in various public and natural spaces; and societal and social rules choreographing our bodies in public spaces.
I am wondering if you might help me think about this more by sharing with me what happens when you do what Obuchi and I have done. This is what I’d ask of you:
- Go for a directionless walk, i.e. a walk not knowing where exactly you will end up.
- As you walk be on the lookout for a place that you could dance**
- When you have found a spot or ventured as far as you’d like to go, take about two minutes (set a timer, if you’d like) and give yourself the opportunity to move in the space
- Share your experience. You can comment below—just include if you’d like your writing to be public or private and I will handle it accordingly.
- Where did you walk? (share your location if you can and I’ll make a map!)
- What spot did you find to dance?
- Had you been there before?
- Were you able to dance?
- What are your thoughts and reflections overall?
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to message me. Thank you for helping me think through this work.
*To remind readers, I am doing summer research at Grinnell College, collaborating with Celeste Miller, Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and Obuchi Adikema on research titled, Embodied Experiences in the Environment. Sharing a belief that experiences that allow space for us to be present with ourselves, each other, and our shared place are vital to our personal health and the health of the environment, we have dedicated ten weeks to exploring and researching how dance-based movement practices can be used to connect people to their place.
* *We are not doing ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap, modern or any other codified style of dance (although you could). Rather, we are finding movement that allows us to notice, connect with and learn from the place that we are in. For example, I might focus on light, wind, movement, shape, or structure and dance in ways that highlight those elements. I might find a particular animal, bird or insect and follow their movement. The choices are endless. It is fun to improvise and find something new.
