What is Movement Theatre?
"What exactly is movement theatre?", anyway? As a genre that blends various performance techniques, movement theatre can sometimes be challenging to define.
Eli and the Death Curse, 2023, presented in partnership with RCAT
photo credit Chris Hibbs
What is Movement Theatre?
What exactly is movement theatre, anyway? As a genre that blends various performance techniques, movement theatre can sometimes be challenging to define.
Defining Movement Theatre
Movement theatre is a genre that seamlessly integrates physical movement with traditional theatrical elements to tell stories, convey emotions, and explore themes. Unlike conventional theatre, which primarily relies on dialogue and scripted actions, movement theatre emphasizes the physicality of performance. It uses the body as the primary vehicle for expression, often incorporating dance, mime, gesture, and improvisation.
The body is not decorative in movement theatre, it is essential.
The Roots of Movement Theatre
The origins of movement theatre can be traced back to various influences, including dance theatre, physical theatre, and experimental performance art. Pioneers such as Jacques Lecoq and Jerzy Grotowski played significant roles in developing techniques that prioritize the body's expressive potential. These influences have helped shape movement theatre into a dynamic and ever-evolving genre transcending traditional boundaries.
The Core Elements of Movement Theatre (for us)
Physical Expression: At its heart, movement theatre prioritizes the use of the body to communicate ideas and emotions. This can range from highly stylized and choreographed sequences to more naturalistic and improvised movements.
Visual Storytelling: Movement theatre often relies on visual elements to convey its narrative. This includes the use of props, costumes, lighting, and setting to create an immersive experience for the audience.
Emotional Resonance: By focusing on physicality, movement theatre can tap into the raw, visceral aspects of human experience. It has the power to evoke strong emotional responses and create a deep connection between performers and audiences.
The Impact of Movement Theatre
Movement theatre's unique blend of elements offers several distinct advantages and impacts:
Inclusivity: Because it can rely less on spoken language, movement theatre can be more inclusive and accessible to diverse audiences, including those who may not speak the language of the performance.
Innovative Storytelling: The flexibility of movement theatre allows for innovative approaches to storytelling. It encourages experimentation and pushes the boundaries of what theatre can be.
Enhanced Engagement: The physicality and visual nature of movement theatre often result in highly engaging performances. Audiences are drawn into the action, making for a more immersive and memorable experience.
Movement Theatre at Untellable Movement Theatre
At Untellable Movement Theatre, we embrace the genre's potential to create compelling and thought-provoking performances. Our approach involves:
Collaboration: We work with a diverse group of artists, including dancers, actors, and musicians, to create multi-faceted performances that highlight the strengths of each contributor.
Exploration: We continually explore new techniques and methods to push the boundaries of movement theatre. This spirit of exploration allows us to keep our work fresh and innovative.
Connection: We believe in the power of movement to connect people on a deeper level. Our performances aim to resonate emotionally with audiences, creating a shared experience that transcends words.
Why Movement and Not Dance?
We often get asked, "Why movement and not just dance?" As a company deeply rooted in the art of dance, this question is both natural and insightful.
2024 Artist in Residence, Keely Whitelaw, performs with Greg Bruce for the 2024 Mayflies Performance Series
Why Movement?
We often get asked, "Why movement and not just dance?" As a company deeply rooted in the art of dance, this question is both natural and insightful. Dance is undeniably a core part of our organization. We work with incredible dance professionals who bring their expertise and passion to our programming. However, our commitment to movement goes beyond the traditional boundaries of dance, and here's why.
The Power of Movement
Movement encompasses the full spectrum of human expression. Dance has a stricter definition and can connotate rigid and colonial limits. By embracing movement in its entirety, we create space for a more inclusive and diverse range of expressions. This inclusivity is at the heart of our philosophy and allows us to cast a larger net, inviting more people to connect with and participate in our work.
Inclusivity and Accessibility
Dance can sometimes feel exclusive or intimidating, particularly to those who do not identify as dancers or who may feel self-conscious about their abilities. Movement, on the other hand, is something everyone engages in daily, often without even realizing it. By focusing on movement, we open the door to individuals of all backgrounds, abilities, and experiences. This approach makes our work more accessible and encourages broader participation, fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and valued.
Expanding Creative Boundaries
Incorporating a wide range of movement practices allows us to push creative boundaries and explore new artistic territories. Movement provides endless possibilities for storytelling and expression. This flexibility enables our artists to experiment and innovate, blending dance with elements of theater, improvisation, and even everyday actions. The result is a rich tapestry of performance that transcends conventional dance and offers audiences something truly unique and compelling.
Enhancing Emotional Connection
Movement has an innate ability to convey emotions and tell stories in a way that words alone often cannot. It taps into the primal and universal aspects of human experience, allowing us to communicate on a deeper level. By utilizing movement, we can create powerful, visceral performances that resonate with audiences on an emotional level. This connection is fundamental to our mission of telling untold stories and making the invisible visible.
Collaboration and Community
Our emphasis on movement also fosters collaboration among a diverse group of artists. Dancers, actors, musicians, aerialists, circus professionals and athletes alike can come together to create something extraordinary. This collaborative spirit not only enriches our work but also strengthens the sense of community within our company and with our audience. Movement becomes a shared and expansive language that bridges gaps and unites us in our creative endeavours.
What’s in a Name?
How Untellable Movement Theatre Got Its Name
Hilary Walsh, Four Parts, 2021, photo credit Ritche Perez
How Untellable Movement Theatre Got Its Name
The irony of writing about how “Untellable” got its name is not lost on us!
The Birth of a Vision
When we founded Untellable Movement Theatre, we envisioned a space where stories were told not just through words but through every fiber of the performers' beings. We wanted to create a place where movement was the primary language and not simply tagged on or decorative.
The Brainstorming Process
We tossed around various ideas, some focusing on the physicality of movement, others on the emotional impact of storytelling. We considered names that were playful, dramatic, and even enigmatic. But none seemed to quite capture the essence of what we were trying to achieve.
The Lightbulb Moment
How do you describe something ineffable? It’s beyond language, it’s untellable.
UNTELLABLE
Embracing the Name
With "Untellable" as the cornerstone, the name Untellable Movement Theatre was born. It reflects our commitment to exploring storytelling through movement in both dance and theatre spaces. It signifies our belief that some stories are too profound, too complex, and too beautiful to be contained within the confines of traditional narrative structures.
Living Up to the Name
The name Untellable Movement Theatre serves as a constant reminder of our mission: to explore the untellable, to move beyond the limitations of conventional storytelling. It's a name that inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries and to remain true to the essence of what makes our work unique.
As we move forward, we carry the spirit of the untellable with us, always seeking to discover new ways to tell stories that words alone cannot express.
Discover our Programming:
Our Story
Untellable Movement Theatre was born in 2020 with a bold vision: to make professional dance performances accessible to everyone. Founded by dance sector veteran, Lynn Panting, and supported by a dedicated founding board of directors—Kevin Woolridge, Leslie Pierce, Hilary Walsh, and Mark White—our journey began with a commitment to breaking down barriers and bringing the transformative power of dance to diverse audiences.
logo design by Lynn Panting
Untellable Movement Theatre was born in 2020 with a bold vision: to make professional dance and movement theatre performances accessible to everyone. Founded by dance sector veteran, Lynn Panting, and supported by a dedicated founding board of directors—Kevin Woolridge, Leslie Pierce, Hilary Walsh, and Mark White—our journey began with a commitment to breaking down barriers and bringing the transformative power of movement to diverse audiences.
From the very start, we have been driven by a passion for collaboration and community. Our partnerships with esteemed organizations such as Neighbourhood Dance Works, The Arts and Culture Centres of Newfoundland and Labrador, Strong Harbour String Collective, Provincial Historic Sites, Resource Centre for the Arts Theatre Company, Dance NL, Hold Fast Contemporary Arts Festival, and Business & Arts NL have been integral to our mission. Together, we have created a platform where art thrives and connections flourish.
Untellable Movement Theatre isn't just about performances; it's about creating experiences that resonate deeply with people from all walks of life. Each performance is a journey, an exploration of human emotion and experience, told through the universal language of movement. Our dedication to making dance accessible ensures that these stories are shared widely, touching hearts and minds across Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond.
As we continue to grow, we remain committed to our founding principles. We strive to innovate, to inspire, and to make a meaningful impact on the cultural landscape. Our story is one of passion, partnership, and the enduring belief that meaningful performances have the power to change lives.
Join us as we continue to explore the untellable, to celebrate the beauty of movement, and to make professional dance and movement theatre a shared treasure for all.