Since 2000 I have been exploring extended actions of solo performance improvisation. These events, each one unique, have had the titles Antibody (2000-2006), A brief history… (2008…), and Almost Nothing. Almost Everything. (2010).

My work in improvised performance is influenced by the projects Unsafe, Unsuited (Ishmael Houston-Jones, Patrick Scully, Keith Hennessy, 1995-2000) and more recently by Meg Stuart’s Auf den Tisch in which I participated in New York (2010) and San Francisco (2011). Additionally, my ideas and practice of solo improvisation emerge from years of practice with Sara Shelton Mann/Contraband (1985-94), the collective CORE (1994-98), and many years playing in the margins around Contact Improvisation

A brief history (of my life in performance) is a solo performance mash-up of contemporary dance, performance art, stand up comedy, body art, site specific installation, and queer performance. Remix, improvisation, spectacle, ritual, action, dancing, not-dancing, speaking, playing, ridiculous, activist, visceral, performance.

A body accumulates information and makes choices. A brief history… is a distillation and a fantasy projection of who and what I am in the context of 30 years of performance experience, training, teaching, discourse. Tactics and images from the historical body of my work appear like habits, crutches, old friends. Questioning improvisation (what is it? what does it do?) drives this post-disciplinary performance.

45-70 minutes

TECH RIDER
Lights: 2 lights on the floor, general light everywhere incl audience
Sound: 1 vocal microphone with cable, 1 cable for ipod onstage
I will want to explore the space. Climb on something if possible. Perhaps use a few platforms if they are available.