The Winter Lab Chronicle: Challenging thoughts!

After the fall lab in Bern (read about how it went here!!), Choreolab gathered again in Amsterdam in January 2016.

The group was different than the one gathered in Bern, bigger and more diverse. Different backgrounds and personal parcours posed a challenge to the choreographers but offered also an opportunity for all to really get in touch with very, VERY diverse approaches: from Korea to Finland, from Theatre Practices to Argentinean Tango, there was room for it all. As one of the participants would share at the end of the lab: “Choreolab has given me the opportunity to better understand how dance is approached in the West”. Cross-cultural mingling: check!

The winter lab had a slightly different structure. Besides the choreographic sessions where one maker could try out his or her ideas on the bodies of the others present, we decided to add to time slots with a more pedagogic approach towards the art of making dances. First, this was done in the setting of a Choreographic Carrousel: The dancers would create material based on images, text or movement qualities. Then, this material was coached and modified by the inputs of all choreographers, 10 minutes each.

When under this kind of methodological, time-bound pressure, many aspects of oneself as a maker and as an interpreter are touched: the ability to let go of one’s first ideas, seeing one’s own movement through the eyes of many others, sharpness and adaptability as an interpreter, the ability to “own” your stuff as you are making and modifying it on the way. Etc.

In a second session, dancers where given the choice to continue working on the material found during the Carrousel, or rather further discuss on a one two one setting with one of the choreographers: be it to engage physically and more deeply into the proposed ideas during the labs, or just to enter in discussion about any question that remained unclear. For example, to address one of the themes dealt with during the theory-introduction lecture.

The dance-theory lecture during this lab versed about the complex relationship between dance and narrative; on how the dance tells itself in mysterious ways; and what the poetic capabilities of its handling can entail towards a viewer. Topics like Truth, Storytelling or Choreographic Dramaturgy were some of the many that where approached.

At the end of the lab, a final session of global feedback allowed all participants to engage in sharing their thoughts about their experience. Some of the feedback we received was encouraging!

“I am very grateful for participating in the ChoreoLab. It was really for me a 'revitalizing' experience in many aspects as I explained to Eve, it is nice to share with other colleagues who are in the same level of interests, research and (+/-) experiences. I am 100 % positive about it.”
Sara Kaupila
 
"The Winterlab was a fun and intensive three days. It was great to get to meet and work together with different people from different backgrounds. Feeling inspired and motivated!"
Gabriela Zuárez

It was an intense weekend for all indeed! Thanks to all participants, and see you in Berlin! (for more info on the Spring Lab 2016 in Berlin, 28 – 30 May, click here)