Jill Randall. Photo by Tony Nguyen.

Even before Shelter in Place, improvisational practices have been on my mind this year and a big curiosity as of late. This week, I am thrilled to share essays and musings from around the globe. We will hear from Ellen Slatkin, Anya Clarke and Mitsuko Verdery of MICHIYAYA, Melecio Estrella, Audrey Johnson, Molly Heller, Molly Rose-Williams, and James Graham.

Today I begin with my humble offering.

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A Dozen Questions about Improvising (Actually, A Baker's Dozen)

By Jill Randall

 

What is "just movement?":: When is it dancing? :: Is the movement dancing because I use the identification of professional dancer? :: How can improvising lead to freedom? :: How can improvising bring me back to my 3-dimensional self, especially in this time of screens and forward focus? :: How is improv "free + accessible?" :: Is improvisation really easy, or really challenging? :: How can I take away aesthetic judgement? :: Or should there actually be more aesthetic choicemaking? :: How + where can I just let go? :: How can I be lighter – in spirit, focus, and attention? :: Is this weird, or beautiful? :: When can I improvise next?

 

 

Jill Randall is the Director of this blog, Life as a Modern Dancer. She performed for 18 years in the Bay Area with Nina Haft & Company, Paufve Dance, Dana Lawton, and Martt Lawrence. Jill received her BFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah in 1997 and her MFA in Dance: Creative Practice from Saint Mary's College in 2016. In Berkeley, CA, she is the Artistic Director of Shawl-Anderson Dance Center. jillrandalldance.com