Flesh brush skin show

At the core of my thesis project is the examination of the history, limitations and new horizons of solo performance practice. Researching in this artistic territory through a feminist and reflective lens requires four distinct stages: (1) completing a cross-disciplinary literature review of the traditions of theatrical monologues, Modernist/Postmodernist solos in dance, women’s comic performances in stand-up and film, and autobiographical performance art in the experimental avant garde (2) formulating research questions that address the historical implications of investigating the form of solo performance (3) experimenting with old and new methodologies for testing the limitations of the solo (4) demonstrating the outcomes of this research through analyzing the role of technology, audience participation, and set design in relation to the solo dancing body. Through exploring the concepts of restraint and animality, Flesh Brush Skin Show was performed on March 15th, 2020 at the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City, in collaboration with MFA graduate students in painting, theater and dance.

This paper will function as a multimedia archival document that features images, journal entries, and scores from the creative process. A praxis of performance practice and theory will bolster personal reflections that examine the efficacy and success of this research endeavor.