“…a choreographic form like remote surgery with the haptic feedback coming from the performers. It’s an interesting creative paradigm; choreographic ideas sent by text message — anything from a suggestion, to word play, to a precise instruction”   Nicholas Minns, Writing About Dance.

IN 2010, ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND’S BUDGET WAS AGREED TO BE CUT BY 29.6% BY 2014. IN 2016, ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND’S FUNDING WAS ANNOUNCED TO NOT TO BE CHANGED WHICH WAS WELCOMED BY ART LEADERS AND MUSEUM CHIEFS. A CLEAR STRENGTH OF PEOPLE WORKING IN THE ARTS SECTOR IS COMPASSION, HOWEVER, THE DANGER OF COMPASSION IS IT ALTERING OUR IDEAS UPON WHAT WE DESERVE.

NO.COMPANY IS ABOUT EMPOWERING FREELANCE ARTISTS. THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF FREELANCE WORK CAN CAUSE FEELINGS OF ISOLATION AND ANXIETY. NO.COMPANY. INTRODUCES ARTISTS TO A NEW WORKING ARTIST, GIVES YOU FREEDOM TO CREATE WITH NO RESTRICTIONS AND CREDITS YOU AS A CHOREOGRAPHER AT PERFORMANCE AND SHARING EVENTS.

NO.COMPANY. DISCOVERS THE RESULTS OF REHEARSING ALONE. THE REHEARSALS FOR THE FINAL CREATION ARE DESCRIBED, DISCUSSED AND PRACTICED VIA INSTANT MESSAGING AND SENDING DOCUMENTS BETWEEN TWO COLLABORATORS. THE PERFORMANCE UNITES THE PROCESS AND THE PERFORMERS’ FRIENDSHIP.

SO FAR NO.COMPANY. HAS LINKED 17 ARTIST ACROSS THE WORLD, WITH MANY WORKING AND COLLABORATING  TOGETHER IN OTHER PROJECTS SINCE MEETING ONLINE.

Naturally frustrated by how hard it was to arrange space and time together with other artists, Joe realised the only date we needed to physically be together, to ensure our ideas were shared with an audience, was the date of the performance. Joe wanted to prove how vital collaborations are for the survival of an art form and have always been interested in how human interaction and social psychology can integrate within the arts. As a result, No.Company.  successfully reminds people of the importance of sharing ideas and the collaboration of different personalities

NO.COMPANY. IS NOT A SINGULAR SOLUTION TO ARTS CUTS, BUT IT IS ONE WAY OF MAKING CREATIVE CHOICES TO MAKE SURE ARTISTS ARE STILL SHARING IDEAS, WORKING CREATIVELY, GETTING A CHANCE TO PERFORM AND KEEPING BUSY.

 

  1. Joe organises a time for 2 new collaborators to meet online.

  2. THE 2 COLLABORATORS HAVE AN HOUR TO DESCRIBE A DUET HAPPENING IN AN IMAGINARY PERFORMANCE SPACE OVER INSTANT MESSENGER. 

  3. DESIGN ELEMENTS ARE FINALISED AND CONFIRMED (IF ANY).

  4. THE CONVERSATION BECOMES A SCORE FOR 2 DANCERS TO RECREATE IN THE SPACE.

SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN 3 SERIES/DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF NO.COMPANY

SERIES 1 - HOW IS IT TO PERFORM A PIECE THAT HAS ONLY BEEN REHEARSED ONLINE?

Joe and dance artist Chess Dillon-Reams met online 4 times and created a duet in 4 hours. 

Joe and Chess practised and rehearsed the duet alone. 

London, November 23rd 2015, Joe and Chess performed the duet for the first and last time. Joe and Chess hadn’t met until on stage when the lights came up. 

Series 2 - How do we translate the instructions into a performance

4 pairs of new collaborators met online to create duets.

Joe and dance artist Jess Haener met in the studio and translated the 4 duets/scores into one performed physical duet. 

London, November 15th - 19th 2016, Joe and Jess performed the duet 5 nights. 

SERIES 3 - COMPARING THE SIMILARITIES OF 2 DUETS THAT HAVE THE SAME INSTRUCTIONS.

3 pairs of new collaborators met online to create duets

Dance artists Jacob Bray, Lorea Burge, Richard Pye and Ellya Sam were put into two pairs (J+R / L+E)

Both pairs were given the 3 duets/scores and had 2 days to translate them into a duet. 

Brighton, March 24th 2017, The 2 duets performed their duet to the same audience.

“…with its fluid, interpretative basis, No.Company has the quality of an improvisation — albeit within restrictions — with the refreshing continuity of a spontaneous conversation replete with asides, pauses, connecting gestures and phrases.”                 Nicholas Minns, Writing About Dance.