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Space

s     p     a     c     e     
 listen:               listen:                  listen:                  listen:               listen: 
I survey the space, note the slope of the grove and the little mounds and depressions, the tall old trees covered with leaves, the sidewalks wandering through the space, the museum, the stadium and parking lot, and Campanile marking its borders.  I also look at the patchwork of light and shade, taking note of how I might photograph the dancers. (from Pete's notes 9/28/08))
It is 9am, there are no clouds, it’s about 65 degrees and there’s a slight breeze. 
The grove is filled with ambient sounds: construction noises from the work
being done on the steam system, truck reverse beeps, tank track treads clanking on the asphalt
and KU buses roaring by.  The first of the fall leaves are on the ground, but the trees are still
green.  The green lawn is slightly moist from the thunderstorm that passed
through early this morning.  Memorial Stadium is below us
to the north and the grove’s trees are casting large shadows
(Chris's notes 9/29/8). 
Matt said he saw the tree as a destination and would "melt into it"
and he "let myself go."  He describes a danger zone in the space in
between trees but then got used to it and started to crawl on the ground,
play with leaves, etc.

 

Michelle H. said the s   p    a    c    e     "o     p      e       n        s              u          p."

 

Several dancers (names?) talked to Chris about    s     f i      p     l l     a     i n     c     g    e. 

 

 

 

One dancer (name?) talked about being more aware of the space.

 



A female dancer moves across the sidewalk and outside the boundaries of where they have been improving all day.

Jokingly, one of the observers shouts “get back in the space!” What a funny way to comment on the limits of improv.

(Michelle M's notes, 10/1)

 

 


 

Jordan talked about space and relationships. . .

 

. . .and some other dancers talked to Chris
                                                                                                            about relating in the Grove and in the studio. . .

 

. . . and Michelle M. asked another group of dancers (names?) to compare improvising in the Grove with improvising in the studio.  

 

 

The students who just danced talked about how much more space

there is in the grove compared to the studio.  Students were wondering "what do we do?" 

One dancer said she felt more safe with the tree than out in space. 

One dancer played off the movement of the squirrels - chasing them. 

Doing this gave the dancer a sense of focus.  Another commented on

how the down slope pushed his movements strait down the hill.

(from Michelle M's notes, 9/29/8)

 

 

A  B  S  T  R  A  C  T   S  P  A  C  E  ?

 

 

 

 


bodies   choice   contact improvisation   discipline  movement   observation/study   orientation   pedagogy   sound   space   squirrels   credits