Interdisciplinary approach to dance and performance making
This year's edition of the Choreography Camp, supported by the Goethe-Institut, happened in Colombo at Villa Natanda and focused on an interdisciplinary approach to dance and performance making. With a background in Bharatanatyam, Kandyan dance, Low-Country dance, Western Contemporary dance and theatre, the participants looked at the different processes, contexts and the various mediums that dance and performance makers could turn to.
The days started off with daily morning sessions, lead by the mentors and guest artists, which varied from practice-led dance explorations, contemplative walks, listening, voice and spine activating sessions, to embodied dance knowledge explorations and more. In the afternoons a diverse program introduced the complex elements of dance and reflecting on the context around it: the invited guest artists Kiran Kumar and Jee-Ae Lim shared their unique work and research in online presentations; mentors introduced various media they work with in their approach to dance, movement and body practices and how they contextualize their work: through dance, research and writing, sound, print-making, drawing, photography, archiving and more. While dramaturgy and composition was also attended to, mentoring and critical group discussions encouraged to go beyond aesthetics and deal with the material in-depth. The participants were given studio time to work on their own work, which they have shared in moving and inspired sharings with the group.
Sara Mikolai (organizer/mentor), Sudesh Mantillake (facilitator/mentor), Isuru Kumarasinghe (facilitator/mentor), Venuri Perera (facilitator/mentor), Hasanthi Niriella (organizing assistant), Jayampiti Gurugue (guest artist), Kiran Kumar (guest artist), Jee-Ae Lim (guest artist) Umeshi Rajendra (guest teacher), Anukuvi Thavarasa (Tamil-English translation).
