I used to not have a phone that could take photos. I also used to not have Instagram. But I acquired one, and then the other. Sometimes I miss not having them. I wonder what it was like.
When I watch a performance, I put my phone away. It can take me a moment to stop feeling its presence, its pull on my attention. Sometimes I’m tempted to check it, but I try not to. If I do, it’s only when I’m really bored. Then I’ll check the time.
Depending on the show, and whether recording is allowed, I might use my phone to take a photo or video. Even when I choose to do that, I never feel quite right about it. My relationship to the work becomes acquisitive, as if I’m trying to hold onto it, or prove that I was there, rather than just letting it happen and letting that be enough. Plus, if I were dancing, I don’t think I’d want to be watched through people’s phones.
A few years ago, I started taking pictures of performances when they were over: whatever remained onstage as the audience left. I would post them on Instagram with the hashtag #aftermathsofdances (clunky but accurate). It became a way to keep a record of what I was seeing, and to share that with others, without intruding on the work or confusing my experience of it. I tried to get other people to use the hashtag, to post aftermaths of their own, and within a very small circle, it caught on.
I’m writing, unexpectedly, in the past tense. The last time I went to a live performance was on March 11, more than six weeks ago. I don’t know when I’ll go again. We’ve entered an aftermath of a larger scale. I guess these images have always conveyed a sense of absence or loss. Now I look at them and feel fortunate to have gathered so many times, with so many people, for ending after ending.
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Anne-Teresa-De-Keersmaeker-Six-Brandenburg-Concertos-1-976x976.jpg)
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, The Six Brandenburg Concertos
Park Avenue Armory
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ashley-R.T.-Yergens-prettygirl264264-1-976x976.jpg)
Ashley R. T. Yergens, prettygirl264264
Abrons Arts Center
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Colin-Dunne-Concert-1-976x976.jpg)
Colin Dunne, Concert
Baryshnikov Arts Center
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Yvonne-Rainer-Some-Sextets-1-976x976.jpg)
Yvonne Rainer, Parts of Some Sextets
Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Unknown-at-Bard-College-1-976x976.jpg)
Sarah Michelson, September2017/
Fisher Center at Bard College
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Marjani-Forte-Saunders-Unicorn-1-976x976.jpg)
Marjani Forté-Saunders, Memoirs of a … Unicorn
Collapsable Hole
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Aileen-Passloff-Sundays-on-Broadway-1-976x976.jpg)
Aileen Passloff, Sundays on Broadway
Cathy Weis Projects
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Moriah-Evans-Figuring-1-976x976.jpg)
Moriah Evans, Figuring
SculptureCenter
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jonathan-Gonzalez-Zero-1-976x976.jpg)
Jonathan González, ZERO
Danspace Project
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Erin-Markey-Singlet-1-976x976.jpg)
Erin Markey, Singlet
The Bushwick Starr
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Maria-Randall-Footwork-1-976x976.jpg)
Mariaa Randall, Footwork/Technique
Performance Space New York
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Juma-Poe-Let-‘im-Move-You_-This-Is-a-Formation-1-976x976.jpg)
jumatatu m. poe, Let ‘im Move You: This is a Formation
Abrons Arts Center
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Kim-Brandt-Problems-1-976x976.jpg)
Kim Brandt, Problems
MoMA PS1
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jaamil-Olawale-Kosoko-Seancers-1-976x976.jpg)
Jaamil Olawale Kosoko, Séancers
Abrons Arts Center
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Movement-Research-at-Judson-Church-1-976x976.jpg)
Movement Research at Judson Church
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Dean-Moss-Petra-1.jpg)
Dean Moss, Petra
Performance Space New York
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Gillian-WAlsh-Moon-Fate-Sin-1-976x976.jpg)
Gillian Walsh, Moon Fate Sin
Danspace Project
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Shiny-Angles-in-Angular-Time-1-976x976.jpg)
Melinda Ring/Special Projects and Renée Archibald, Shiny Angles In Angular Time
The Chocolate Factory
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SkeletonArchitecture-1-976x976.jpg)
Skeleton Architecture
Danspace Project
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Anna-Sperber-Salt-Seas-1.jpg)
Anna Sperber, Wealth From The Salt Seas
The Chocolate Factory
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BigDanceTheater-17c-1-976x976.jpg)
Big Dance Theater, 17C
BAM
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Larissa-Velez-Jackson-Zapatografia-_-Shoegraphy-1-976x976.jpg)
Larissa Velez-Jackson, Zapatografia/Shoegraphy
Abrons Arts Center
![](https://movementresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Kota-YamazakiDarkness-Odyssey-Part-2-I-or-Hallucination-1-976x976.jpg)
Kota Yamazaki, Darkness Odyssey Part 2: I Or Hallucination
Baryshnikov Arts Center
All images are courtesy of Siobhan Burke.