Artificial Things

• Choreographer


  Lucy Bennett
• Company


  Stopgap Dance Company
• Date of first performance

  5th of February 2014, UK Premiere
• Dance style


  Inclusive contemporary dance (disabled and non-disabled)
• Choreographic approach


  Uses a collaborative approach within her choreography. Dancers actively contribute to the process through choreographic tasks.
• Stimulus


  Snow covered landscape with an isolated figure perched on a collapsed wheelchair, being observed from afar as if through a snow globe. Paintings by Serbian artist Goran Djurovic influenced the design, costume and choreographic images within all the scenes. Personal experiences.
• Choreographic intention


  About the characters coming to terms with life's limitations and we are subject to the gaze of 'the other'.
• Dancers


  4 dancers (2 male/ 2 female)
• Duration


  20 minutes
• Structure


  A tragedy and is a aftermath, where the characters are more pensive. Opens with two duets. The first ground-based contact the second influenced by dancers improvising the idea of touch, leading and following. The group unites for some ground-based contact work. A trio (bar Toole) find harmony whilst dancing with one another and Laura's wheelchair. Trio gathers around Toole. Toole then dances a simple solo focusing on facial expression and physical storytelling to the song 'The Sunshine of Your Smile'. Toole returns to group and is frozen in time with the other characters.
• Aural Setting


  Andy Higgs - "The Sunshine of Your Smile" and was mixed into the atmosphere often sounding distorted or as if drifting in on the wind.
• Costume


  Designed by Anna Jones, the costumes are a wash of blue and green, merging with the backdrop. Paint running from the garments. Like Djurovic's paintings. Other garments are removed to depict that time has moved on.
• Lighting


  Designed by Chain Yavrovan, focuses on one or two spots. It opens out in the middle, with a blue wash, is warm and has cool side lighting.
• Performance environment


  Proscenium arch
• Staging/ set


  Designed by Anna Jones, influence by several paintings from the "Untold Secrets" collection by Goran Djurovic. It consists of a crudely painted heavy backdrop, where paint looks like it is running down the canvas. Creates a calmer visuals. Vitrine, two stools and a headless suit on mannequin legs.