About the work

The work explores the idea of ‘Double Stars’ as discovered by Sir William Herschel. Double stars rotate around each other and are often different in colour. The movement vocabulary of the piece is inspired by basic laws of physics that apply both in earths atmosphere and in weightlessness.

Where the project came from

The role of gravity on the body is dominant in all dance techniques and sporting activities. The imitations of an effortless weightlessness by a ballet dancer or the constant play with gravity's force in contemporary dance are both battles against gravity. It is necessary to use these experiences to explore what would still work and what new dance vocabulary/method of choreographing could evolve if dance was in a weightless environment. This collaborative project incorporates the training and skills of the following artists: a contemporary dancer, a B-boy, a gymnast, a trampolinist, and a synchronised swimmer who have all co-choreographed this work. Some of the key movement principals in weightlessness that have inspired the work are: the principal of every action having a reaction, the feeling of free fall, a 3D space and the endless quality of spiral as described by those who have experienced weightlessness. My interest in the area of dance in weightlessness was fuelled by initial research developed two years ago in my dissertation for my BA Hons in Dance Studies. Since then the ideas have manifested and the need for my initial research to be further developed into a practical performance has still captured my interest. Eventually I wish to format my ideas in a usable form to be of benefit to other professionals and those in educational settings.