Opening the Circuit: an exploration into contemporary dance in natural environments / Clara Stanford (2021)

Opening the Circuit, a study by Clara Stanford, investigates the experience of performing western contemporary dance in natural settings, with a specific focus on the sensory input in these environments. Through practical research I aimed to find if this increased amount of sensory information meant that dancing in outdoor spaces is richer and more fulfilling than in traditional dance spaces, and how exactly the various aspects of nature affected my movements.

In order to achieve this I traveled to a variety of natural locations around the southern United Kingdom and filmed myself dancing a set piece of choreography. After this was complete I compiled the footage into a film to showcase my process, and analysed my experience through the lens of phenomenology and the written work of other dance artists who pursue outdoor movement.

I found that dancing in nature is both difficult and invigorating, and that it both allowed me to experience dancing with a more externalized focus, and forced me to give up some of my control over my movement to my environment. I could not stay inside my head with so much going on around me, and I was always having to negotiate with elements like the uneven ground and the wind. I believe that this can be beneficial as with a more external focus I was able to draw energy and inspiration from the world around me and having to work with different factors allowed me to discover new ways of moving, and therefore think this topic could be the subject of further study.