DAY SEVEN

By Ellie McDonald

“Circus Bodies” Peta Tait.

1.Acts of aerialism/human cannonball.
They are designed to provoke a reaction through pure movement. Spectators often experience the same reactions i.e. holding of breath, gasps, feeling of anxiety.
Why do audiences attend knowing the likelihood of experiencing anxiety?
These acts create a heightened impression of danger or death. Creates a similar reaction to plots in melodrama/action in thrillers.
Spectator does not turn away from anxiety – do they become bodily, viscerally desensitised. “Visceral sensations become bodily reminders of the continuity of his aliveness”.
Sensationalism through effortless delivery.
Illusions/transformations of aerialism – stretched reality like the portrait.

2. I was attracted to the picture on the front of the book. It was of air-born dancers (doing trapeze work) which reminded me of my initial reaction to “what would be your last dance?” – which was a twisting, air-born spiritual step after death. The title “circus bodies” drew my attention to it being about the body rather than thought etc..

I flicked through the book at random looking at chapter titles – and was drawn to those relating to female gender. I just read at random and wrote anything that captured my attention for a few seconds.

My approach to dance often has an end product or goal in mind, or an image of how it might look. My approach to the book was completely indifferent, with no expectations or worries of finding/producing anything.

I wrote any sentences that I wanted to remember. In any order. Also I wrote any thoughts that came to mind. The order of the sentences – complete or incomplete was not important. The overall sense of the page was not important. I wrote down some quotes.