Practice as Research
The Dance Department at the University of Chichester has a strong reputation for its focus on Practice as Research in Dance and Performance (PaR). Several members of staff, Sarah Rubidge (www.sensedigital.co.uk (external link)), Marisa Zanotti, Virginia Farman (www.bicycleballet.i12.com (external link)), Andrea Davidson (http://a.davidson.free.fr (external link)) and Yael Flexer (www.bedlamdance.com (external link)) are active practitioner-researchers (see staff details), many involved in interdisciplinary research and/or the dialogue between performance and technology.
We have a growing community of PaR PhD students at UoC, many of whom are professional artists (e.g. Nic Sandiland (www.nicsandiland.com), Jane Turner (www.janeturner.net), Lisa Alexander) investigating different issues through their work. These include: the generation of choreography from the behaviour of spectator/participants and virtual performers; the use of the scientific notion of emergence in improvised dance performances and the poetics of site-generated artistic practice grounded in sensory knowledge.
Our MA programme gives students the opportunity to investigate their practice in depth as performers, makers or independent researchers. The principle that creative practice can be as rigorous a mode of researching certain research concerns as more conventional research methodologies underpins our approach to PaR. Creative practice generates comprehensive critical reflection and/or theoretical investigation to illuminate the more subtle details of the research concerns revealed through the practice.
PaR students at UoC are supported by practitioner-researchers and dance scholars, studio and theatre space (with technicians and technical equipment), access to a well-equipped Media Centre and an extensive library of books, videos and DVDs. They participate in the lively research culture of the School of Visual and Performing Arts, which includes regular research presentations, performances and exhibitions by staff, research students and visiting artists and access to research initiatives at other arts venues and universities.
Valerie Briginshaw's work
Image from the Embodying Ambiguities website illustrating the Arts & Humanities Research Board funded writing and performance-making research project co-directed by Valerie with the choreographer, Emilyn Claid.
Andrea Davidson’s work
DIAPh interactive installation at the festival Résonances, Centre Pompidou, Paris
Yael Flexer's work
Yael Flexer and BedlamDance Company in Shrink’d Photo: Chris Nash
Sarah Rubidge’s work
Global Drifts: Sarah Rubidge and Hellen Sky (Company in Space)
Nic Sandiland’s work
Remote Dancing (2004) a collaboration between Nic Sandiland and Rosie Lee at the Southbank Centre
Marisa Zanotti’s work
Still from At the end of the Sentence
