‘they are always present but they never arrive’ (2024) is a solo performance dance piece that I developed during the Dance and Performance Masterclass by the School of Disobedience in Budapest, Hungary. The Masterclass was a month-long deep dive, with two other artists, into developing performance from a personal and intuitive approach alongside collective learning on topics such as postdramatic and postmodern performance. The whole process was explored both individually and collectively with the two other artists partaking in the masterclass.
Images from the School of Disobedience workshops
The concept of ‘they are always present but they never arrive’ was inspired by notions of otherness and alterity. The Human Surge 3 by Eduardo Williams was an inspiration for this piece as he often plays with confusion, fluidity and obscurity in his films. I wanted to explore embodying fluid identity and dichotomies existing simultaneously. In physical explorations we researched intense tension and trembling of the body from tension, as well as stillness and expanding movement in time.
I also applied these concepts to the text I developed and used in the piece, using symbolism of the chrysalis and the constant, fluid feeling of identity and becoming. Existing always in a transitional state, constantly transforming, but never into something.
Chrysalis, blur of identities, I am always becoming intangible, I am dipping into existence.
Movement exploration
Further development
Final rehearsals for 'they are always present but they never arrive'
The performance uses the combination of music, dance, video and spoken text to create a detailed and perhaps confusing world, which permits the defiance of mainstream representations. Moreover, it depicts the need to find representation within the self because of lack thereof in the outside world. In all of its details, this piece offers audience members a connection to their own inner world and provokes the questioning of acceptance and belonging. It can invite people to take a closer look at their own definitions of normalcy and presents alternate ways of interacting with the world.
Images from the performance of 'they are always present but they never arrive' at 111 Gallery in Budapest
Feedback from audience after performance