Nigel Leadbitter, the host for our “Who is here?” speed-meeting session, had an excellent idea for icebreakers: rather than have us say who we are and what we do (yawn!), he gave us short quotes about dance to discuss (yay!). In that spirit, I offer three anecdotes from Baltic Dance Platform that I hope may lead to… interesting conversations.
1
Latvian dance artist Krišjānis Sants told me that when he studied dance at the P.A.R.T.S. school in Brussels, no teacher ever made judgements about what he was doing: it was all questions about motives, possibilities, ideas. Which was interesting and challenging – but he never felt on solid ground.
When he later studied scenography at the Latvian Academy of Arts, his tutor passed judgements all the time, saying: you can agree or disagree with me, but during my course you learn my way, and afterwards you can do as you like. Which was interesting and challenging – and Krišjānis knew where he stood.
Where do you stand on this spectrum of educational approaches?
2
At an artist talk, performer Jette Loona Hermanis felt she had to clarify something before answering a particular question. “I despise academic language,” she said. “I have a trauma from it.”
Later, I sought her out, and told her: I despise academic language, and I have a trauma from it! She seemed both surprised and genuinely relieved, so I smiled at her, in solidarity.
Are you traumatised by academic language – and why (or why the hell not)?
(Please avoid using such language in your answer)
3
In a pitching session, dancers Laurynas Žakevičius and Rokas Šaltenis from Lithuanian company Low Air showed an excerpt from their 21-minute duet Vienudu. One programmer audience asked if they planned to develop it into a full-length work. “Twenty-one minutes IS a full-length work,” replied Laurynas. Touché!
How long is too long, how short is too short?
(Please keep your answers to the right length)
