During the rehearsal process for Scalable Skeletal Escalator, we discussed/shared/imagined our ‘Dance Fantasies’. These took many forms. For my dance fantasy, I selected four videos that I always return to in times of need.
When I need perspective, need inspiration or need to feel that feeling; the feeling that motivates you to continue to insist upon dance.
This selection is by no means exhaustive, but by all means inspiring. Happy watching.
4 videos to always return to:
Bob Fosse, The Rich Man's Frug, from Sweet Charity
Riverdance at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest
Declan Whitaker is a dancer and choreographer, originally from Birmingham, UK, now based in Switzerland. He began dancing after seeing Riverdance on TV as part of the 1994 Eurovision song contest in Dublin. His artistic focus is centred around aesthetic conventions, dance as politics and dance as freedom.
His work has been presented at Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Den Frie Udstilling (Copenhagen), Dansmuseet (Stockholm), The Place, The Royal Opera House (London) and International Dance Festival Birmingham. He has worked with Isabel Lewis, Martin Forsberg, Simone Aughterlony, Eva Recacha and National Dance Company Wales. In 2019, Declan received the danceWEB scholarship at Impulstanz under the mentorship of Anne Juren, Annie Dorsen and Mette Ingvartsen.
He holds a Masters Degree in choreography from London Contemporary Dance School and a qualification in curatorial practice from SKH (formerly, DOCH) Stockholm.