CLAIRE’CUNNINGHAM’ Promoter’Information’’ GIVE’ME’A ......
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CLAIRE CUNNINGHAM Promoter Information GIVE ME A REASON TO LIVE ABOUT Claire Cunningham is a performer and creator of multidisciplinary performance based in Scotland. Originally a classically trained singer, she began to work in dance in 2005 after working with US choreographer Jess Curtis. Curtis kindled Cunningham's curiosity in her own potential for movement, which led instinctively into the desire to make her own work. A selfidentifying disabled artist, Cunningham's work is often rooted in the study and use/misuse of her crutches, and the exploration of the potentiality of her own specific physicality, with a conscious rejection of traditional dance techniques (developed for nondisabled bodies) or the attempt to move with the pretence of a body or aesthetic other than her own. She aims within her work to find everincreasing levels of honesty – both as a live performer and in the base material. It is often biographical, exploring deep personal questions, but with wideranging, universal resonances. She is interested in nonnormative bodies and keen to highlight the enrichment to be gained in contemporary performance, especially dance, by embracing this. By extension, she is also driven to make work that will attract those often disenfranchised from watching contemporary dance due to the conventional body aesthetics.
Transcript of CLAIRE’CUNNINGHAM’ Promoter’Information’’ GIVE’ME’A ......
CLAIRE CUNNINGHAM
Promoter Information GIVE ME A REASON TO LIVE
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Claire Cunningham is a performer and creator of multi-‐disciplinary performance based in Scotland. Originally a classically trained singer, she began to work in dance in 2005 after working with US choreographer Jess Curtis. Curtis kindled Cunningham's curiosity in her own potential for movement, which led instinctively into the desire to make her own work. A self-‐identifying disabled artist, Cunningham's work is often rooted in the study and use/misuse of her crutches, and the exploration of the potentiality of her own specific physicality, with a conscious rejection of traditional dance techniques (developed for non-‐disabled bodies) or the attempt to move with the pretence of a body or aesthetic other than her own.
She aims within her work to find ever-‐increasing levels of honesty – both as a live performer and in the base material. It is often biographical, exploring deep personal questions, but with wide-‐ranging, universal resonances. She is interested in non-‐normative bodies and keen to highlight the enrichment to be gained in contemporary performance, especially dance, by embracing this. By extension, she is also driven to make work that will attract those often disenfranchised from watching contemporary dance due to the conventional body aesthetics.
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“Stark, brutal – new words, maybe, to ascribe to Cunningham’s creative actions, but she claims them with her customary integrity and conviction.”
Mary Brennan (Buzz Cut Festival 27/4/14) ****
Give Me a Reason to Live is a 40 min solo performance by Glasgow based choreographer Claire Cunningham inspired by the work of medieval Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch and set to a mesmerizing sound score by sound artist Zoe Irvine.
Exploring issues of religion, in particular religious art, alongside questions regarding judgement of bodies and quality of life, the work takes the form of a series of tests. Tests of body and of faith. For the artist it is a study in the notion of empathy.
Give Me a Reason to Live is dedicated to the approximately 70,000 disabled victims of the Nazi Aktion T4 euthanasia program and exists as a live memorial to these individuals and the current disabled victims of the present UK governments so-‐called ‘welfare reform’.
With this work she has been consciously pushing the subject matter away from autobiographical material – looking to create connections with other people and issues, to find new methods of researching and devising material – such as the use of duration, methods of working alone and of creating shared artistic space.
Give Me a Reason to Live is a stripped bare, physically powerful work -‐consciously engaging on a political level, and thereby raising questions of the environments the work should be placed in in order to engage more widely, or to create more resonant contexts.
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***** 5 Stars Herald Scotland “There is so much heart and intellect, courage and integrity here: Cunningham pushes boundaries not just for disability rights, but for us all.” http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-‐ents/stage/dig-‐review-‐give-‐me-‐a-‐reason-‐to-‐live-‐at-‐tramway-‐glasgow.125287750
**** 4 Stars List “shocking and immediate.” https://www.list.co.uk/article/70641-‐dance-‐review-‐give-‐me-‐a-‐reason-‐to-‐live/
**** 4 Stars Bachtrack “Give Me a Reason to Live is a quietly intelligent work that manages to be both devastating and full of joy.” http://bachtrack.com/review-‐claire-‐cunningham-‐give-‐me-‐a-‐reason-‐to-‐live-‐brighton-‐festival
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PROMO VIDEO:
http://vimeo.com/109287574
A full run of the work is available – please email Nadja Dias on [email protected] for link and password.
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Choreography & Performance: Claire Cunningham Lighting Design & Production: Karsten Tinapp Sound design: Zoe Irvine, additional music: Nesciens Mater: Jean Mouton, Den Tod: JS Bach Costume: Shanti Freed Mentors: Kristin De Groot (Bosch Project), Janice Parker (Scotland)
Supported by the Bosch 500 Foundation, Dance Umbrella, Comune di Bassano del Grappa, La Briqueterie, D.ID Dance Identity, Festival CEMENT (NL), Dansateliers Rotterdam, The Work Room (Glasgow) and Dance House (Glasgow).
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Duration: The performance is 40 minutes long – no interval
People On The Road: 3 – 4 (depending on schedule/ set up)
Freight: N/A
Space & Set Up: A minimum 8m x 8m accessible, flat space. The company will require a full day get in/ technical rehearsal prior to the first. Please refer to the Technical Rider for details.
It can be performed in a black-‐box studio theatre or in a non-‐theatre or gallery space. The space must feature a corner and a back wall clear of any doors, windows, signage, plug sockets, heaters or other fittings and furniture.
The corner area must feature 1m of clear, straight wall space on each side from the centre out. The walls, which form this corner must be solid and bear Claire's weight.
The floor can be wooden or dance floor but not stone or concrete. The space can be black or white. A photograph of the corner area must be provided to the artist before a presentation can be confirmed.
Sound & Lighting: The sound score can be played from a laptop, which will travel with the company. A sound system or speakers must be provided which is compatible with a Mac for amplifying the sound
The lighting will be created from in-‐house lighting stock and the presenter in theatre and non-‐theatre spaces must provide this. A lighting plan is available.
Audiences: The audience can be seated or promenade in front or to the sides of the performer. Claire is available to give any ancillary workshops, talks or discussions around the performance.
Logistics: Claire can give between two and four performances during a one-‐week period, but cannot give more than one performance per day.
Fee: Please contact Ana Sala on to [email protected] to discuss fees.
The company will require:
Travel and accommodation for up to 4 company members -‐ performer, 1 technician, producer and/or administrator:
-‐ Return travel and all transfers to/ from airports to location. Air travel with a reputable airline. -‐ Transfers between hotel/ venue -‐ Accommodation in single rooms in a hotel with a rating of at least 3 stars or equivalent. -‐ Per Diems, Visa Costs and Travel insurance contribution of £10 pp. -‐ Freight: n/a for this performance provided technical rider can be fulfilled
Please note all schedules need to be agreed and discussed and travel arrangements need to take access requirements and scheduling into account.
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For discussions please contact
Spain and Portugal Manager
Ana Sala on [email protected]
or +34 619951791 / office: 0034 960090504
http://www.clairecunningham.co.uk
www.ikebanah.es
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