Introduction

This blog was created as my tool for documenting my Artistic Research, following the exposition model. Basically this place is my little internet corner where I document every single stage and detail of my research and studio work, as well as reflection and feedback notes.

The main question of this project and essentially this blog's subject is: 

What is home?

My research is conducted in two main themes. The first one is the search of my home when I am moving, my kinetic identity and the second is how I interpret the meaning of home on stage through a choreography. Both of these research parts have parallel but at the same time different processes.

As far as my first research theme is concerned, I am currently attending ballet classes at the Greek National Opera, through which I am attempting to understand my body and my identity by trying to assimilate the strict movement action of ballet, that undeniably has such a specific movement aesthetic. Simultaneously, I am working with Dr Steriani Tsintzilioni ( Phd professor and teacher of history of dance, theory class, in the School of the GNO), who will help me to connect the dots of how ballet can help me on my quest of finding my personal kinetic identity, as well as providing me with references. 

Moreover, I am in close contact with Caroline Ribbers (Faculty teacher at Fontys University and dance artist) as her doctoral studies are on how somatic movement and self-learning are linked to one another. Through emails and Skype meetings she provides me with tool kits that I use for my research in the studio.

Lastly I document the use of the "fighting monkey" technique, that my artistic coach, Linda Kapetanea - one of the creators of this technique, has given me as a base for my research/improvisation in the studio. 

As time goes by, I realise that my kinetic identity depends on the familiarity that I have with some research and improvisation tools and with some mechanisms/basis that my body needs to initiate movement.

Additionally, I record information of what does the homeland that I live in mean to me, as I wish to  create a solo choreography where I move according to my own kinetic identity in the scope of my home country, my roots.

The second research theme is how I will express the definition of home on stage. In this section the main subject is the choreography, my identity as a choreographer and how I choose to present my thoughts on stage and the reason behind my choices. In the scope of Rationale, the main goal is to reach at the point where I will be able to express my definition of home applied in the different aspects of humanity. I imagine a chorale/ chorus of people moving on stage, their bodies communicating the meaning of home with various ways, while these bodies are producing at the same time the sound environment of the performance, which is based on scripts created under the subject of home. The scripts are derived from a Greek poem called "Home", a chorus text - part from Bacchae ancient Greek Tragedy by Euripides,  and from the answers of various people on the question "What is home?".

The process of the research will be documented in this blog, as mentioned above. I will post data, pictures, videos and every material that I use as a basis. For example, I am going to post a video of the choreography The Rite of Spring, a repertory piece  that I am currently study to learn as a dancer, in the repertory (of contemporary creations)  class of the  Greek National Opera School, as I believe it is an amazing opportunity to study the way a remarkable choreographer has worked, to create such a masterpiece. Thus I will be able to notice similarities and differences in my techniques and even get possible tips that I could apply in my own work.

On this section as well I have the support of Linda Kapetanea, helping me out with the tasking process for the dancers and the actors. I am planning on using both dancers and actors in my performance, as I would like a diverse range of experiences. Actors have a great role in the production of the sound environment of the performance, as this part is going to be the basis for the creation of the movement of the bodies. 

Theoretically, the bibliography on this section is wide as there is the sociological aspect of what is home in the modern times, where the emigrations prevails, the political aspect and so on, but also there is the aspect of home and familiarity in my own body, which in this case the bibliography is connected closely with the first research theme.

This is my Rationale, that I am sure it will evolve further as I get deeper and deeper in my research, trying to define my home. My goal is to obtain a personal kinetic dialect both as a choreographer and a dancer, through a group and a solo project.