Traversing A History:: Talvin Wilks
Traversing A History: There were early conversations with the Bebe Miller Company members that detailed what A History would be, early descriptive language from Bebe poured forth – “A History will simultaneously exist as an archive and installation…” “A History is an interactive, dynamic exposure of how we do what we do…” “A History is an archeological inquiry into our continuously evolving manner of asking questions…” “A History is a retelling of creative process…” “A History becomes its own live archive as the artists re-map, dance and manifest thematic traces of their collaboration over time…” “A History will excavate the contextual layers of imagery and media in this lineage of work…” “A History will strip away the contextual layers of imagery and media to delve into the fundamental kinesthetic exchange between two artists…” These are the fundamental guideposts to understanding what A History is striving to be, an access portal - part archeological, part experiential. Very early on in the process of making A History there was a movement exploration called, A Walk in the Woods. This was a section that involved a staged dialogue between Dance Scholar, M. Candace Feck, Choreographer/Director, Bebe Miller and myself as Dramaturg. It was an attempt to bring a type of live engagement into the room, an access conversation that explored the question of asking questions. What are the questions to ask, what history is being traced? The making of A History is very similar to most development processes in the Bebe Miller Company history, a series of questions, a search for language. As a dramaturg, I am always capturing language, what is being talked about, debated, determined, language is key to our movement based process. There is a particular journey through text that begins with Going to the Wall and travels through the next three premieres, Verge, Landing/Place and Necessary Beauty. A History is a culminating exploration of this journey. Language is key to understanding the terrains of exploration.
Photo: Tom Brazil Dancers: Bebe Miller, Ralph Lemon