Performance as experience

Definition

Performance as experience refers to the idea that the act of performing is not just about the finished product, but about the feelings, interactions, and processes that happen during the performance. This concept emphasizes how dance and movement can create shared moments and evoke emotions for both performers and audience members, making the experience itself a central focus rather than just the choreography or technique.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Merce Cunningham believed that every moment of performance had its own unique qualities, making each experience distinct and valuable.
2. Cunningham's use of the chance method allowed for unexpected elements in performances, enhancing the experience for both performers and viewers.
3. The focus on performance as experience encourages dancers to be present and engaged, fostering a deeper connection with their art and the audience.
4. Cunningham often collaborated with visual artists and musicians to create multi-sensory experiences that transformed traditional expectations of dance performance.
5. This concept challenges conventional views of success in performance, suggesting that the journey and interactions are just as important as achieving a polished result.

Review Questions

• How does Merce Cunningham's approach to choreography relate to the idea of performance as experience?
  • Cunningham's choreography, particularly through his chance method, embraces unpredictability, which is key to the notion of performance as experience. By allowing random elements to influence his work, he creates a dynamic environment where every performance is unique. This unpredictability encourages both dancers and audiences to engage fully with the moment, making each experience distinct and emphasizing emotional connections over technical perfection.
• In what ways did Cunningham's collaborations with other artists enhance the concept of performance as experience?
  • Cunningham's collaborations with visual artists and musicians brought a multi-dimensional aspect to his performances, enhancing the audience's overall experience. By integrating diverse art forms, he encouraged viewers to engage not just with dance but also with visual and auditory elements. This interplay fostered a richer emotional landscape, allowing audiences to experience performances on multiple levels, transforming traditional boundaries between different art forms.
• Evaluate how the shift towards viewing performance as experience has influenced contemporary dance practices since Cunningham's time.
  • The shift towards performance as experience has significantly shaped contemporary dance practices by prioritizing emotional engagement and audience interaction. Many choreographers today draw inspiration from Cunningham's methods, creating works that emphasize spontaneity, collaboration, and improvisation. This evolution has led to performances that invite audiences to become active participants rather than passive observers, ultimately enriching the communal aspect of dance and enhancing the overall impact of live performance.

Related terms

Embodiment: The physical expression of emotions and ideas through movement, allowing performers to connect deeply with their experiences and communicate them to others.

Improvisation: A spontaneous form of performance where dancers create movement in the moment, often fostering genuine interactions and experiences during a piece.

Audience Participation: An interactive element in performances where audience members are invited to engage actively, transforming their role from passive viewers to active participants in the experience.