The Utopian Ensemble: Collaboration and Emergent Creation

This article introduces a methodology developed by the author for cross-disciplinary collaboration and ensemble-building in three contexts: (1) workshops and performances with postgraduate music and dance students on the interdisciplinary MA Il Cantiere Infinito programme at the National Dance Academy in Rome and MACRO Museum; (2) a participatory socio-political piece performed at Tate Modern in collaboration with dance practitioner Simonetta Alessandri and undergraduate students from Trinity Laban Conservatoire (3) a community-based devising workshop inspired by opera at Theatre Delicatessen studios in London.
Using an inclusive, de-centralised and democratic approach to learning and creation, this methodology attempts to establish a common language of collaboration, improvisation and composition involving musicians, dancers and other performers. Elements such as rhythm, timing, space, motivic development and ensemble interaction are introduced in an embodied way in both sound and movement simultaneously, drawing on practices such as Anne Bogart’s Viewpoints, Pauline Oliveros’s Deep Listening pieces, physical theatre and devising practice. Following a period of learning and familiarisation, the performances created are emergent and dependent on a democratic, self-led process. In this sense, the process and resulting ensemble-community could be considered ‘utopian’.

This chapter is adapted from a paper first presented at The International Conference DAR – Dance AND Research 2019: https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/87y0x