what_now 2014

11 – 13 April 2014

‘We can reach every point in the world but, more importantly, we can be reached from any point in the world. Privacy and its possibilities are abolished. Attention is under siege everywhere. Not silence but uninterrupted noise, not the red desert, but a cognitive space overcharged with nervous incentives to act: this is the alienation of our times […] workers commonly and voluntarily work overtime, the population is tethered to cell phones and Blackberries, debt has become a postmodern form of slavery, and antidepressants are commonly used to meet the unending pressure of production. As a result, the conditions for community have run aground and new philosophical categories are needed’.

Franco Bifo Berardi, 2009

what_now 2014 re-imagines the idea of a festival by hosting a group of 20 dance artists to explore processes of moving through collective practice and theory. What moves us, and how we can articulate and think through movement, lies at the centre of this festival. It continues Independent Dance’s ongoing interest in developing the way somatic practices, philosophy and science can operate together.

Over four days and three nights, those involved will draw upon the body in relation to theory and philosophy. They will be living and sleeping in Siobhan Davies Studios in London, working on and with actions, without necessarily producing choreographic objects. The group will follow strands of thought, host guest speakers whose contributions will feed into their processes, and address new forms of social organisation and production. Activities might include building and dismantling structures and performing cyclical actions, through which we can engage with, and function within, a cycle of speeds.

The residency will be facilitated by Frank Bock, Efrosini Protopapa, Hamish MacPherson and Katye Coe.

We are looking for artists whose work is grounded in movement practices to form the main body of the group. You should have an interest in questioning the possibilities, limitations and conditions of production, collective processes, the public and the private. We are particularly looking for applications from artists outside of London.

The artists will arrive on Thursday 10 April at noon, and work together until Sunday 13 April at 9pm. You will need to be free for the full four days for this process and be prepared to be resident for the duration. The building and the process will be open to the public on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Food will be provided, but you will need to bring your own bedding. Siobhan Davies Studios is an accessible space; if you have any further access needs please let us know. We will not be able to accommodate children.

How to apply

If you would like to be part of the group, please send a statement of interest of not more than 400 words, describing your current artistic concerns, your dance or movement practice and how you imagine these might function / fit / intersect with this event to Georgina Batchelor at info@independentdance.co.uk. Do not send CVs or biographies please.
The deadline for statements of interest is 5pm on Wednesday 28 February. The residency facilitators will review all applications, and invited artists will be informed by 10 March.

what_now is presented by Independent Dance in association with Siobhan Davies Dance.