A Choreographic Research Project

‘The Lisbon Diary’ was an ongoing  choreographic research project for 2009 led by Claire Pençak.

The starting point for the project was a daily record of observations and visual images made  over a 6 week period in Lisbon in 2008. These provided ideas for the creation of movement vocabulary and choreographic structures.

The aim is to develop a vocabulary of forty three dance phrases , images, choreographic or rhythmic structures  – one for each day of the diary. 

The spirit of the project was exploratory , playful and fleet of foot. We worked fast, moving on through the days rather than lingering too long over any one idea. Working from the standpoint that it’s not necessarily what you do but how you do it, how it is framed, structured and ultimately danced that creates meaning and expression.

The project began with 3 Creative Labs in Eden Court, Inverness; Citymoves, Aberdeen and The Space, Dundee during which we worked through all the phrases. The project culminted in a week long residency and Soundings performance at citymoves as part of DanceLive! in October 2009. Claire  worked with professional and final year student dancers and two student composers from the University Of Aberdeen.