The fourth piece in the Breaking Classical collection entitled Begin with Wonder was a meditation on an artist's relationship to their art form and an invitation to ask questions about the creative process. This piece cultivated deep internal reflections and required dance artist and photographer Allison Kazmierski to find presence amid performing, and remain steady to what may come up from such introspective ponderings.
Wisdom begins in wonder. Allison spent several months working with a large white skirt that eventually became so integrated into her process that she found the solo to be more of a duet. The skirt became a partner, a character, in the choreography. It demanded Allison's attention and required frequent attention and forethought before any movement took place. The performance was largely built using choreographic prompts so that Allison could remain attentive to the skirt and adapt as it moved with her and around her. There was no avoiding the presence of this fabric. "What did that mean to Allison?"
If Allison moved quickly it swirled up at her feet, hobbling her into stillness. Other times she would gather the fabric in her arms and toss it in the air so that it could let her body "exhale," letting the fabric settle at her feet. The labor of this process was both beautiful and poetic. Her experience with the fabric stirred up conversations about taking up, and holding, space. Further dialogue looked to how the balance between expectation and adaptation creates agility and openness. Rather than become consumed with frustration with the fabric, Allison found a lot of wonder, curiosity, and eventually joy from the experience. |
As Allison worked on this project, alongside three other dance artists, they collectively reflected on the way in which dance is always with them. As part of a creative process, each artist reflected upon their life as they left pointe shoes behind to aspire towards other careers, fall in love with spouses, spend time with and start families. Each artist reminisced and reflected upon their time as classical dancers and how aspects of dance culture still influence daily patterns and ways of being in the world. As Allison, and soprano vocalist Carolyn Coefield, bridged their work together performatively the conversations reflected upon how pieces of that classical training, and those experiences and memories, will always live in them as they move through out their lives. Their dance lineage remains woven into them, a partner they will always be tethered to.
Let us find you in presence
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
- Lao Tzu
Park sessions were part of the process and offered Allison time to become familiar with the garment's tendencies in public spaces without performative expectations. Working outside, and without the constraints of a formal stage or set choreography, she began to find a relationship with the fabric and a playfulness punctuated with laughter and smiles. Allison eventually took the garment to Burning Man to perform in the desert of Nevada.
Creator of Wonder
Your mind always sparkled with wonder at things.
- John O'Donohue
Allison performed this, then unnamed, solo in 2018 as part of a memorial tribute to Allison's childhood ballet teacher, Jana Stockton. It was this final performance that brought about a title and final reflection to the piece.
I wrapped this skirt around myself last week and danced in tribute alongside friends to honor our late ballet instructor. Though I've never been comfortable onstage, I found myself calm and collected - honored to be sharing with an audience who had asked us to be there. I pictured her watching through the glass of the YWCA window and smiled. I'll never forget how she made rivers out of bubble wrap, coaching us to gracefully leap over the water. Thank you, Jana, for being an incredible teacher and creator of wonder. You left a beautiful mark on so many lives. |
Historical Context | Source Material
The skirt is a tribute to choreographer Jessica Lang's solo The Calling in which a dancer is held on stage by an enormous white skirt. The Calling is part of much larger work, Splendid Isolation, has been performed by both men and women. Lang describes a section of, Splendid Isolation, as a romantic duet set to Mahler’s “Adagietto” from his 5th Symphony. The original inspiration for the creation came from the life of Gustav Mahler and his wife Alma. In their story, Mahler asked Alma to give up her career as a composer before he would marry her, so she could devote herself totally to him and support his career instead. Splendid Isolation explores the intimacies between a man and a woman and examines the idea of giving up part of who you are for a relationship. The work focuses around the woman enveloped in a large skirt that defines the boundary between the lovers. Through the evolution of the piece, the skirt that once separated the couple becomes the object that binds them together in their splendid isolation from the world.
In relation to Breaking Classical, the skirt became an integral part of Allison's experience and looked widely at how dance artists, particularly ballet dancers are shaped both physically and mentally towards the art form's ideals. This piece questioned what dance artists give up for a relationship with their art form. As well as how that art form creates boundaries and separation - yet binds them to individuals who have inspired them to become the person and artist they are today. Begin with Wonder suggests that we can be simultaneously separated from, and tethered to, what we love.
In relation to Breaking Classical, the skirt became an integral part of Allison's experience and looked widely at how dance artists, particularly ballet dancers are shaped both physically and mentally towards the art form's ideals. This piece questioned what dance artists give up for a relationship with their art form. As well as how that art form creates boundaries and separation - yet binds them to individuals who have inspired them to become the person and artist they are today. Begin with Wonder suggests that we can be simultaneously separated from, and tethered to, what we love.