"The In-Between"

"The In-Between" is a solo work that explores the concept of state-shifting as defined by Meg Stuart, an American choreographer and dancer based in Brussels, Belgium.

thumb|300px|rightIn her book, Are We Here Yet?, Stuart defines state-shifting as an exercise through which "dancers quickly shift from one state to another without any lapse in time, without any space for thought." States are considered the physical representation of emotions, memory, and actions in the body. State shifting is similar to the idea of changing channels when watching television. Each state is a different channel - completely independent of one another.

As the actor, the performer must be fully invested (emotionally and physically) in each state while the shift between states must be immediate in order to be clear to the audience. According to Stuart, "Dancers need to fully commit to whatever state [they] arrive at .... A state emerges when [they] are no longer thinking in technical terms about what [they] are doing." These elements are clearly seen throughout Aufiero's work and create a performance that is just as captivating, unnerving, and intriguing for the performer as it is for the audience.

Source: Stuart, Meg. "Are We Here Yet?" Ed. Jeroen Peeters. Dijon: Presses Du Réel, 2010. p. 20. Print."

During the rehearsal process, Gabrielle experimented with extremes to construct her states. For her "running state" she invented a story about the need to race against time and explored its limits by pushing her endurance as far as possible. Repeatedly, she ran fast and hard - to the point of exhaustion - so as to fully invest herself in that experience. This action created a memory which she drew upon mentally each time she entered that state. In this way, the movement went beyond the mere act of running to fully engage Gabrielle physically, mentally, and emotionally each time she entered that state.

Program Information:
 * Title: "The In-Between"
 * Choreographer and Dancer: Gabrielle Aufiero
 * Costume: Gabrielle Aufiero

Questions to consider:


 * 1) How does the dancer use the concept of state shifting? Are the shifts apparent to the audience and fully committed to by the performer?
 * 2) Relate the concept of state-shifting to something you've seen or experienced. How does it compare to the dance?
 * 3) Explore the concept of state-shifting for yourself. Come up with three past experiences: one happy, one sad, and one angry. Try to fully commit to the emotions felt during those memories. Shift immediately and completely between the three. How does it feel to do this exercise?

Click to add a response: Audience Response Page