Presenze competenti. Approcci somatici al gesto e dispositivi partecipativi nelle creazioni di Frédéric Gies e di Virgilio Sieni

Abstract

Dance (Praticable) (2005-2008) by Frédéric Gies and Pinocchio - leggermente diverso (2013-2015) by Virgilio Sieni are contemporary dance projects relying on methods of transmission and composition based on, or influenced by, somatic practices. Such practices are defined as those aiming at enhancing bodily and gestural awareness by focusing on the movers’ subjective and inter-subjective experience. Through these two case studies it is considered how these compositional processes can express potentially anti-conventional instances concerning the quality of the performer’s presence as well as the final structure of the piece. Having such intentions in mind, the artists induced what we call an intuitive adherence between their gesture and thought (Cveijć in Gies 2008b), and subsequently turned their works into participatory dispositives. It is thus possible to disempower some categories opposing “professionism”, “non-professionism” or “amateurism”, “ability”, and “disability” by considering each participant from the perspective of their competences; besides, such choreographic practices are not exempt from the possibility of endorsing normative approaches or applications.