I was exploring ideas around the power dynamics and the oppression through choreography and performance. I have joined I Dance the Other project at Studio Wayne McGregor. The project was consisting of workshops introducing us to methods of creating choreography and visual art works, and sessions to develop our own ideas. We were looking at how methods used by choreographers could apply to visual artists’ practices and vice versa. The workshops have provided me with certain methodological tools that I utilized in the development of my ideas involving dance and movement.

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In one of the etudes I was using a thick red thread as a symbol referring to knowledge and power on micro and macro levels, with its manifestations in geopolitics and structures in a society that have a control over individuals. In the process of rehearsing and giving instructing to participants I realized that the process itself contained these power dynamics. In the context of this work, as an author I had the most power, by giving instructions and coordinating the process I was exercising this power, yet an interesting twist happens when the power is being delegated to performers to «control» and «restrict» myself with the line.

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This observation made me consider not only ways the power could be embodied in performance but also how performance (art, theatre or dance) as a process and within a context of, for instance, theatre, contains power and hierarchy in relationship of performer vs audience, performer vs choreographer and choreographer vs institution. This example also shows how each individual may hold different roles at the same time - of the oppressor and the oppressed in their professional or daily lives. I am intending to take ideas to study further via research and practical work