Meteor - i - bite, reflection

Spotify playlist link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6U1jCmtFBl8Ni0PmlAYAFb?si=1b14f7011ac44784

Since living in Boorloo I would tap off the bus at the Museum stop to get into Northbridge and walk past this large metallic rock presented on the grounds of the museum. It held such a weight of performance. It is such a visually stimulating piece. However, no one really took notice of it. It was taken advantage of. 

I felt compelled to, when the proper moment came, create something for this meteorite. In keeping with a focus of my fellowship ‘experimenting performative development methods,’ the meteor finally had its moment to shine.

The FONDA experiment, which came first, worked with 5 dancers and a three hour time together pre performance. An exceedingly short ‘development’ into the performance.  For Meteor-i-bite I changed the conditions. I worked with only one performer (Kimberley Parkin) and one sound designer (Cameron Park), and the development period all together was 5 days with a performance on the 6th. This was much less risky on so many fronts but also held a lot more specificity in what I wanted to achieve.

I came to the development with material that I had been working on throughout the year. A palette of textures, a storyline, ideas for sound and choreographed movement.

I really wanted a musician to be orchestrating the sound live, which lead me to reaching out to Cameron Park who devised and performed an incredible score in such a short period of time. I have a deep working relationship with Kimberley Parkin and knew that her performance capabilities would exceed anything I could imagine so got her on board as well. Luckily, I was blessed with incredible collaborators to bring this work to life.

The narrative of the work was heavily inspired by one of my favourite writers Akwaeke Emezi, specifically her book 'Freshwater.' For "Meteor-i-bite" I created a narrative for Kim to follow where spirits inside the meteor are distressed about being moved from their sacred landing ground. Demonic possession takes place in Kim, the protagonist, by these spirits. The resolution of the work is the freedom of these spirits. The subject matter came from my own beliefs in 'the land as knowledge and sacredness.' Things having more value than the western gaze cares for.

The occult has always lured me since I was a child. Bringing the fantastical or magical into real life for audiences is an interesting performative line I attempt to play with. I'm certainly not successful yet in it's portrayal but this work allowed me to experiment with it. Site-specific work really engages with this idea of reality and the performance meeting in a limbic space, allowing individual imaginative thought come to life for audiences. As Dumbledore says "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"

I am extremely proud of the work that we made, especially being one of my first creations. I can't thank David Stewart enough for coming on board last minute to be production manager. They really pulled the technical side of this work together.

Pre-creation Mood Board: