I travelled to Munich last November for a two week residency at the tail end of a very busy
year. The tank was empty. I had no real plan except to continue making a show that I’ve
been developing since February 2022. With the knowledge that there was a sharing towards
the end of the process, I wanted to make it as stress free as possible.
Previously, the thought of presenting something would raise some kind of anxiety inside me
rendering me slightly paralysed. In true Irish fashion I would bury the feelings and just get on
with it. I presented a work in progress to this effect in May 2022; it felt more like an outer
body experience than the grounded approach us barefooted contemporary dancers are
known for. I crashed and inevitably got sick afterwards, vouching to change my outlook on
the dreaded sharing from then on.
Tanztendenz seemed to be a right place, right time happening that proved itself by luring me
into some sort of calm-er state while making. Being in a new place, with new people offered
me a sense of freedom. Nobody had any preconceived notions of me, there were no
expectations. I continued making because I liked what I was doing, not because I was
thinking about how an audience might perceive it. If i’ve learnt one thing about making from
Jonathan Burrows it’s that you will kill your work if you start to judge it too soon. It sounds
like an obvious observation but it can be easier said than done. Atleast the physical and
mental spaces Munich provided allowed for some uninhibited making. Burrows also says “it’s
just a stupid dance”. That helps too.
I’m becoming less and less concerned with the “dance’ and more concerned about the
people. I spent my two weeks with two collaborators Susanne and Roisin. They are both
such generous people and their contributions to the work is what makes it interesting.
Tantendenz itself is an artist led organisation which supports freelance choreographers and
makers. Its whole model is built around sharing space, sharing ideas, supporting one
another, and you can feel it while you are there.
I presented my work in the end and I’m proud I found a new ease with that, but the crux of
my time in Munich was so much more. It was about connecting to others and sharing values
in shared spaces.
I will thank “dance” for that.
