Looking back at the 2015 – 2016 season

CHOREOLAB EUROPE started as a pedagogical & choreographic exchange between Sanne Clifford and Anja Gallagher. After their first meetings during 2014, they decided to open up this relationship and offer other choreographers the space and possibility to try out their ideas or methodological research.

Thus, CHOREOLAB EUROPE was born as a platform where the participants would be offered the possibility to physically and mentally share in the interests and questions of others, in a peer-to-peer setting. Not merely as a choreographic workshop, but rather as an open space where every participants ideas as makers could be challenged, reflected upon and further developed thanks to the feedback of other colleagues. We all row in the same boat.

During this first season three labs where organized. CHOREOLAB EUROPE has grown and better defined itself while happening, and with this post we want to summarize some of the key ideas that will help us shape the labs of the future. If you want to know more about how the labs of last season went, check out the articles about the FALL, WINTER and SPRING labs.

Read further if you want to have more insights on how CHOREOLAB EUROPE will look like in BARCELONA or LISBON during season 2016 - 17!

• PEER TO PEER. Far from being a workshop where a specific method, technique or class is given, we stress that the choreographers who want to be part of CHOREOLAB EUROPE share in all other labs as participants as well: The value of every opinion is equal. This way of working unites us all at the service of one idea in every lab.

 

• BALANCE. Another very positive aspect of all labs so far was the aim to balance the physical work with time-slot devoted to reflection, feedback and thought. We gradually added time to establish what we like to call “playgrounds”, where we adapt the content to the questions or interests of all participants. Next to the dance-theory lecture coordinated by dramaturge Jordi Ribot Thunnissen, we have found a good balance between physical work, theoretical approach to movement and debate amongst participants.

 

• GUIDANCE. Aiming for a good use of time over the weekend, CHOREOLAB EUROPE sets up a strict schedule in order to respect this balance. Every session, even if it is a playground or a feedback session, counts with a leading figure. The positive aspects of this tiny hierarchical structure are many: the discussions do not lose focus, are not allowed to become endless, and time pressure also forces everyone to be succinct in their opinions. The possible connections between ideas are mentioned and awakened, but left for everyone to develop on their own instead of trying to reach for a collective conclusion on the spot (which is time-consuming and not very productive).

 

• LENGHT. One of the changes for next seasons entails a longer program for each CHOREOLAB. This does not mean adding more labs to the equation, but opening up more time-slots for choreographic playground etc. We found it was worth it to offer participants more space to use the time in the way they prefer, using the choreographers present as coaches, organizing groups to try out or debate their own ideas and challenge their thoughts, etc. Anything can happen here.

 

• THE SOCIAL. Another aim for next season for CHOREOLAB EUROPE is to invest more in the after-lab program. Whilst in Berlin we spontaneously found ourselves eating together every day, we would like to keep this in mind for the future. This way, in the more relaxed ambiance of coffee, lunch, or after-shower, we can also get to know each other more. Since we are all networking ourselves through live, the value of these exchanges should not be underestimated! ;)

 
With this in mind, CHOREOLAB EUROPE has already begun setting up shop for next season!
 
We are going to be in BARCELONA in November and in LISBON in Spring – for more info click here.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any question. You can do so by clicking here.