Comments on: Emergence (in two parts) http://old.movementresearch.org/criticalcorrespondence/blog/?p=3084&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=emergence-in-two-parts Critical Correspondence is an artist-driven project of Movement Research that aims to activate, develop and increase the visibility of critical discourse on dance and movement-based performance work. Wed, 15 Oct 2014 18:27:30 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.5.29 By: Sarah Maxfield http://old.movementresearch.org/criticalcorrespondence/blog/?p=3084&cpage=1#comment-3956 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:50:03 +0000 http://www.movementresearch.org/criticalcorrespondence/blog/?p=3084#comment-3956 I think it’s important to consider expression in contrast to the seeking of validation. Everyone craves validation (artists and non-artists), but as artists we have to find the courage to put that need for validation aside, so that we can focus on what we are actually trying to express. What is it that we are trying to share and explore, and are we being successful in that communication? If validation becomes our primary focus over expression, our work becomes selfish. Being selfish isn’t bad because it’s “wrong.” It’s bad because it’s boring for audiences and a spiral of perpetual insecurity for artists.

Also, I think it’s important to remember that issues of the body are common to all humans, not just dance artists. I don’t make that comment to scold or imply that dance artists are not uniquely interested in the body. But I think it is important to remind ourselves that the body is the common ground we have with each other, and that artists of the body hold extreme potential power to connect our audiences with the most basic, essential aspects of ourselves.

Thanks for starting this conversation, Lindsey. I look forward to your next installment.

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