Independent dance artist Claudia Alessi comes from a diverse dance background, interwoven with acrobatics, aerial work, physical theatre, puppetry and film. Speaking with Alessi prior to the premiere of her new work, In This, she passionately advocates for an integrated approach to choreography and direction. “My choreography is about the mixed physical abilities and styles of the performers and the integration of physical form - that’s what I like to explore,” she says.
Alessi has taken more of a directorial role for the final stage of development for In This, a project she began working on two years ago. “The piece started as a simple trio between myself, Natalie Allen and Richard Cilli, who are now both at Sydney Dance Company,” says Alessi. “I just worked on this idea that these dancers were connected and never ever disconnected. We started with that very abstract physical idea. Then in 2010 I worked with Laura [Boynes], Russell [Leonard] and Katherine [Puie] for three weeks, churning out material for the beginning of the movements for this work. We came up with some really interesting solos and duos. I came to them with the notion of trying to integrate AUSLAN sign language and I did this so I could work on developing that AUSLAN gesture sign language into greater movements”, she elaborates.
At the centre of In This are questions about communication; Alessi’s own experience and impacts of internet-mediated relationships, physical and gestural languages. “There’s also the notion that there's this human part, a need to be physical and need to interact physically that deserves our attention rather than always being too busy communicating with our machines,” she adds. “I see In This as a work about fate and the connections we have with others on unrelated paths. We constantly find ourselves ‘in situations’ and ‘in moments’ where we question why or how did we arrive there, on or off line,” says Alessi.
Claudia Alessi. Photo: Pascal Veyradier.
The work is produced under Alessi’s newly founded collective, Company Complesso, which she has set up as a project base point for WA independents. “Company Complesso works as an ensemble with integrated practice, to deliver excellence in community work and professional performance,” Alessi says.
Under the direction of Claudia Alessi and Company Complesso, STRUT
dance will present this new full-length WA contemporary dance theatre
work, In This, at the State Theatre of Western Australia, Studio Underground from 18-21 April 2012.
http://www.strutdance.org.au
- Philippa Hansen