I have invited members of the dance community to join the site. Some may not be aware but the "Four Legs" project is diverse. Alongside the key focus of participation in dog walking - are several other side projects. One of these "Commune" - is being explored with the post graduate dance students at Uni, some staff and freelance practitioners as well. The aim of this event has been to take some of the ideas that have arisen from the dog walking and explore them in a theatre/conventional dance context. A kind of reversal of the main project - which has been to take the resources of dance and leave the theatre - "Commune" sets the issues back in the theatre.
The first discussion point explores 'participation vs observing'.
It is suggested that the joy, creativity and potential of dance is found in the 'doing' – that it is the participation in corporeal/embodied activity – i.e. activity that requires all the senses, that produces the experiences of dance. At its core dance is about felt experience through activity.
“Four Legs” explores the idea that the potential for new experience, to feel and sense new experiences exists in our everyday lives. In activities like dog walking our senses are alert – we are actively stumbling into new sensations that are at the heart of creative activity.
This is where the dogs come in and where due to their presence, dog walking becomes dance. With the addition of a dog – as a spontaneous and instinctive influence walking becomes increasingly unpredictable. Or perhaps the experience becomes more lively – an alert and playful dog requires attention. Participation in the unruly activity of dog walking brings new sensations and feelings – that arrive through the 'doing' of the walk. Crucially too, these experiences are unrestrained – they are not tied to a rational or conscious ordering – they come and go as small(or large) interruptions. Is it this appearance of unexpected sensation that is the creative potential of dog walking?
Describing dance in this way is quite a shift from how many would imagine dance. Instead of making steps and music the priority - here movement or action of any sort - that involves the body fully is thought of as dance. The creative potential that resides in 'doing' is the exciting thing - and this version of dance extends the potential it carries to everyone.
Any responses greatfully received. Post to the discussion board.
Welcome
Welcome to 'Four Legs BetterThan Two'
'Four Legs' is a community arts project based on the experiences of dog walking.
Everyone is invited to participate.
This project is about how dogs shape our lives. Based on the stories, memories, joys and benefits of dog walking 'Four Legs' looks at how our dogs influence the ways in which we experience and interact with the world.
'Four Legs' also reflects on the nature of the informal community we become part of as dog owners and how this community produces a sense of belonging that enhances our lives.
All dog owners are invited to participate in the project. There are many possible levels of participation from a simple comment on the discussion boards at popular dog parks to shared walks.
Contributions to this blog site are most welcome. These could be in the form of photographs, short stories or video of your favourite walks. As the project develops this site will gather dog stories from all over Dunedin, to create a network of 'who's who' in the most popular dog areas.
Out of the project will come several different events. The most important entitled 'Four Legs Better Than Two' is the heart of the project. The experiences of dog walking will be gathered in the most inventive ways. Including the use of 'dog cam', shared walks and audio recordings this will be a light hearted and undemanding process. From these records will come the stories of dog walking and the community that we become part of through their influence. To participate in this stage please email me at sean.curham@otago.ac.nz.
The final event will be an informal showing of these stories and records - with plenty of food and drink - to which everyone is invited.
The other projects that from part of 'Four Legs Better Than Two' include an installation at the University called 'Big Dog', a sound work called 'Growly Dog', ongoing discussions on the dog park boards, 'Commune' a project with the post graduate students of the dance programme at the University of Otago , 'Good dog, bad man' a white board cartoon that is contributed to by passers by and a very light hearted project called 'Dog Park Karaoke'.
'Dog Park Karaoke' - is being created in response to the informal nature of the dog community. This event gathers its material through a process of chance encounters reflecting the informal, mobile nature of dog community interactions. We never know who we will meet. Will it be the 'regulars' out walking their dogs or will their be unknown 'newbies' on our patch? There are a number of different recording devices 'floating around' in the dog community - being handed on from person to person. These include postcards, a dog phone, and a camera. By recording your dogs information via these devices you will become part of the project building a profile of your dog.
'Dog Park Karaoke' will then be 'performed' in local parks where owners will trigger this information and a giant image of their dog. Of course more food and drink is required.
'Four Legs' is a community arts project based on the experiences of dog walking.
Everyone is invited to participate.
This project is about how dogs shape our lives. Based on the stories, memories, joys and benefits of dog walking 'Four Legs' looks at how our dogs influence the ways in which we experience and interact with the world.
'Four Legs' also reflects on the nature of the informal community we become part of as dog owners and how this community produces a sense of belonging that enhances our lives.
All dog owners are invited to participate in the project. There are many possible levels of participation from a simple comment on the discussion boards at popular dog parks to shared walks.
Contributions to this blog site are most welcome. These could be in the form of photographs, short stories or video of your favourite walks. As the project develops this site will gather dog stories from all over Dunedin, to create a network of 'who's who' in the most popular dog areas.
Out of the project will come several different events. The most important entitled 'Four Legs Better Than Two' is the heart of the project. The experiences of dog walking will be gathered in the most inventive ways. Including the use of 'dog cam', shared walks and audio recordings this will be a light hearted and undemanding process. From these records will come the stories of dog walking and the community that we become part of through their influence. To participate in this stage please email me at sean.curham@otago.ac.nz.
The final event will be an informal showing of these stories and records - with plenty of food and drink - to which everyone is invited.
The other projects that from part of 'Four Legs Better Than Two' include an installation at the University called 'Big Dog', a sound work called 'Growly Dog', ongoing discussions on the dog park boards, 'Commune' a project with the post graduate students of the dance programme at the University of Otago , 'Good dog, bad man' a white board cartoon that is contributed to by passers by and a very light hearted project called 'Dog Park Karaoke'.
'Dog Park Karaoke' - is being created in response to the informal nature of the dog community. This event gathers its material through a process of chance encounters reflecting the informal, mobile nature of dog community interactions. We never know who we will meet. Will it be the 'regulars' out walking their dogs or will their be unknown 'newbies' on our patch? There are a number of different recording devices 'floating around' in the dog community - being handed on from person to person. These include postcards, a dog phone, and a camera. By recording your dogs information via these devices you will become part of the project building a profile of your dog.
'Dog Park Karaoke' will then be 'performed' in local parks where owners will trigger this information and a giant image of their dog. Of course more food and drink is required.
Friday, June 26, 2009
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