Sense (an)other : Interconnective networks in site-responsive performance scores

Abstract

This choreographic practice-led research is located between human and nonhuman interconnections and asks: ‘how can queer artistic strategies entwine with mycological thinking to evolve a site responsive choreographic practice?’ Associating with the symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and plants, the practice weaves Morton’s (2010) concept of an ecological mesh, and Braidotti’s (2016) materialist concept Zoe, through a series of performance scores. In alternating between open and structured choreography, the research dwells on Karen Barad’s (2007) intra-action as it has worked through relations between animate and inanimate objects in performance. Engaging with socio-ecological art practices, Sense (an)other attempted a ‘being with’ others, inside and outside the studio through relational choreography. The wish being, to bring about an awareness of the connectivity across species, and between audience, performer and the public. The fruiting body of this performance, Sense (an)other, was performed at the University of Auckland Dance studios and Rangipuke (Albert Park). The social and spatial choreographic practice of Becca Wood’s (2015), choreoauratics, became a model for the accompanying headphonic score which prompted listening and sensing the visible and invisible in private and public territories. In adapting John Cage’s foraging methods, and Deborah Hay’s ‘What if?’ questions, scores incorporated poetic objects and movement prompts that manifested embodied states of unknowing. This work has been influenced by Richard Orjis and val smith’s bttm methodology which affirms queer artistic positioning, to counter colonial-capitalist perspectives on art. In response to Orjis’ version of a bttm methodology (2021), Sense (an)other encountered local sites and moved collective choreographic actions inside fungal, neural, social and sonic networks. Sense (an)other endeavoured to foreground the response-ability that we/humans have, as co-extensive partners embedded in ecological networks. This research reveals possibilities for pairing performance scores with queer artistic strategies and mycological thinking in choreographic practice.