Today, contemporary dance works a lot with improvisation and research. This often results in a mixture of different movement qualities, patterns and stylistic quotations. The mixture of many participants can reduce the recognition value. It is interesting to see how the different dancer personalities are thrown together and how this leads to new constellations and vocabulary. But the whole thing is always different because it changes with every turn. It's like a kaleidoscope. But that's exactly what makes it so appealing. If, as a choreographer, dancer or viewer, you want to learn something about aesthetics, message and effect, then you have to embark on the adventure - I find it totally exciting when I, as a viewer, can recognise a signature or a style. It's like a living signature that can and must continue to develop. Because everyone should and may challenge themselves again and again. Everyone should be able to scrutinise and revise their work.
Nevertheless, the references remain tangible and the craft visible. This is a lengthy process.
And I have the feeling that many of today's choreographers shy away from this process. Be it due to a lack of time, convenience or because ‘copy & paste’ is feasible and almost legal these days.
They orientate themselves strongly on famous choreographers such as Forsythe, Ek, Kylian, Naharin or Bausch. But in doing so, they lose their own signature style. They chase after a certain ideal of beauty and the current hype instead of trusting their own creativity.
Conclusion: Analysis is good. Reflection is important. It is an elementary and permanent task to find one's own style in order to distinguish oneself from the masses, and if this is constantly changing and the choreographer does not do this consciously, then the artistic work will rarely be associated with one person. Either it is then steered in certain directions through dramaturgical or directorial interventions, which also have a kind of recognition value, or it is not used by the choreographer.
If you realise what you have seen, you can interpret it better and compare it with other works. This allows you to enter into a dialogue more clearly, more focused and more quickly.
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